It’s off to Japan for the USA Women’s Eagles, their first ever tour to the land of the rising sun.
Having played Japan only twice in program history, both during the Rugby World Cup, the 11th ranked Japanese team should be a great series of fixtures ahead of the first venture into WXV1 for the United States. The tour will be a two-match series, with matches on August 11 and the second August 17, both streaming live in the US on RugbyPass TV.
Head coach Sione Fukofuka and staff have selected 30 traveling players, led by veteran Tess Feury who will step in as Captain while Kate Zackary and Rachel Johnson recover from injury. Four prospects join the tour with an opportunity to earn first caps, that being Sophie Pyrz, Emerson Allen, Sophia Lamphiere and Sariah Ibarra. Ibarra first jumped on the USA Rugby radar with the U18s in 2022, while Allen and Pyrz have been in the pathway and competing with the Rhinos Rugby Academy, a USA Rugby National Development Program. Lamphiere brings a new element of speed, coming through to the international stage from the Berkeley All Blues and Premier Rugby Sevens.
Joanne “Nana” Fa’avesi heads back over the fifteens and sevens line, while Maya Learned and Saher Hamdan make notable returns to the program for the first time in over a year.
In the coaching ranks, Eagle Alumni Sarah Chabot steps in as Assistant Coach following her recent tour heading up the USA Falcons tour in Brazil. Chabot played Prop for the Eagles earning 25 international caps and most recently as a coach, also led the American Raptors.
FukoFuka said in the time between the Pacific Four Series in May, “the players have all been working hard in their remote settings to prepare for the challenge that Japan provides, especially at home. We have focused on our strength and conditioning, alongside our core skills to make sure that we are prepared to face a very technical, fit and motivated Japanese team in the warm conditions in Japan.
“In addition to the remote programs we have implemented satellite sessions in San Francisco, Denver, and Boston to provide touch points between the players and the core standards that we set in the Pacific Four Series. The selected squad has also connected via Zoom calls to make sure that the players are all aligned on the game model we have established, the behaviors and standards that are expected to perform, and our previews of Japan as we approach the first test in Kitakyushu.
“This series presents an opportunity for the players to again represent their country, to push for WXV selection and continue to develop their technical and tactical ability. As coaches we are excited to prepare a team on a short turnaround against a quality opposition and continue to build on the platform set in PAC 4. We have the opportunity to welcome a number of players who have not been involved in the current set up and really continue to build depth across a number of positions. Returning players have a chance to push their case and the new members of this traveling squad have the opportunity to get a taste of international rugby and add some excitement and competition to positions within the team. Tess Feury will bring a different voice and with her leadership group with McKenzie Hawkins and Kathryn Treder as vice captains, will have the opportunity to drive those values and standards that we have identified as important to the program and the jersey. Overall we are excited at the balance of the squad and the potential we have as a team, and just want to continue to push our standards and performances with each opportunity we are provided.”
| Name | Position | Club | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catie Benson | Prop | Sale Sharks | 43 |
| Maya Learned | Prop | Colorado Gray Wolves | 11 |
| Keia Mae Sagapolu | Prop | Leicester Tigers | 9 |
| Charli Jacoby | Prop | Exeter Chiefs | 28 |
| Alivia Leatherman | Prop | Life West | 3 |
| Kathryn Treder | Hooker | Loughborough Lightning | 20 |
| Paige Stathopoulos | Hooker | Beantown RFC | 8 |
| Saher Hamdan | Hooker | Colorado Gray Wolves | 4 |
| Hallie Taufoou | Lock | Loughborough Lightning | 17 |
| Erica Jarrell | Lock | Sale Sharks | 9 |
| Jenny Kronish | Lock | Beantown RFC | 15 |
| Emerson Allen | Lock | Life West / Rhinos | Yet to debut |
| Tahlia Brody | Flanker | Leicester Tigers | 10 |
| Rachel Ehrecke | Flanker | Colorado Gray Wolves | 13 |
| Freda Tafuna | Center | Lindenwood University | 8 |
| Joanna "Nana" Fa'avesi | Center | Life West | 6 |
| Katana Howard | Center | Sale Sharks | 20 |
| Emily Henrich | Center | Leicester Tigers | 16 |
| Autumn Czaplicki | Center | Life West / USA Sevens | 5 |
| Olivia Ortiz | Scrumhalf | Sale Sharks | 20 |
| Taina Tukuafu | Scrumhalf | Berkeley All Blues | 9 |
| Sophie Pyrz | Scrumhalf | Life West / Rhinos | Yet to debut |
| McKenzie Hawkins | Flyhalf | Colorado Gray Wolves | 15 |
| Gabby Cantorna | Flyhalf | Exeter Chiefs | 25 |
| Bulou Mataitoga | Wing | Loughborough Lightning | 17 |
| Atumata Hingano | Wing | Life West / USA Sevens | 2 |
| Summer Harris - Jones | Wing | USA Sevens | 3 |
| Sophie Lamphier | Wing | Berkeley All Blues | Yet to debut |
| Sariah Ibarra | Fullback | USA Sevens | Yet to debut |
| Tess Feury | Fullback | Leicester Tigers | 26 |
Head Coach | Sione Fukofuka
Assistant Coach | Mel Bosman
Assistant Coach | Sarah Chobot
Team Doctor | Derek Hatfield
Head Athletic Trainer | Emily Lauer
ATC | Sam Malette
Lead Physical Performance Coach | Sylvia Braaten
Analyst | Caitlin Singletary
Team Manager | Lindsay Wilson
USA vs Japan | Sunday, August 11 | 5am ET
Mikuni World Stadium | Kitakyushu, JPN
Watch live on RugbyPass TV
USA vs Japan | Saturday, August 17 | 5am ET
ECOPA Stadium | Shizuoka, JPN
Watch live on RugbyPass TV
