- Women's Eagles announce roster for Women's Rugby Super Series 2019
- 28 players named with seven injury reserves and up to nine new caps awarded
- Tournament streamed LIVE on florugby.com
- Schedule and tickets available at usarugby.org/superseries2019
SAN DIEGO, CA. - USA Head Coach Rob Cain has named his full squad for the Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019 taking place June 28 to July 14 in San Diego, CA, broadcast LIVE on FloRugby.com.
A total of 28 players have been named with another seven injury reserves and the opportunity for up to nine new caps to be awarded.
Five players have been selected from the USA Women’s Sevens Residency program including Alev Kelter, Kris Thomas, Hope Rogers, Eti Haungatau and Ashlee Byrge.
Rogers, Haungatau and Byrge joined the Women’s Eagles during their historic matchup with Barbarians F.C. in April, where Haungatau scored two impressive tries and made several crucial runs in a thrilling contest. Kelter and Thomas last suited up with the 15s side for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017.
Dartmouth College’s Emily Henrich will also return to the fold after winning the 2019 MA Sorenson Award, presented to the top college player in women’s rugby. Henrich last competed during the November Internationals 2018 where she earned her first cap against New Zealand.
Head Coach Rob Cain said: “Those selected, and many others in the player pool who were so unfortunate to miss out, have all worked tirelessly with the sole aim of improving every day we have together. The Super Series is the perfect platform for our squad to showcase this and continue to express themselves as they keep exploring and developing our USA brand of rugby.
"We are under no illusions how tough the competition will be, but we also know how invaluable this experience is for us as a team. Having nine possible debutants and only five players in the 28 squad in double figures for caps shows how important these games are for their development as individuals and collectively as a program.
"We knew where we were in 2018 and the first part of 2019 has allowed us to build upon this. This new chapter in the Women’s Eagles story is only ten months old and we have another 26-27 months of exciting adventures ahead as we look to Rugby World Cup New Zealand in 2021.”
The Women’s Eagles will assemble on June 22 in San Diego, CA for the two-week Women’s Rugby Super Series featuring No. 1 New Zealand, No. 2 England, No. 3 Canada and No. 4 France. The first four rounds will be hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista with the final round taking place at University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. Two matches will be played per round.
VIEW FULL SUPER SERIES 2019 SCHEDULE
Ticket packages are available at usarugby.org/superseries2019 with prices starting at only $69 for all 10 matchups. Single-day tickets are also available starting at only $19. Games will be broadcast LIVE on Florugby.com in the U.S.U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM 15s FULL SQUAD
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katy Augustyn | Hooker | Berkeley All Blues | 33 |
| Bui Baravilala | Center | San Diego Surfers | 6 |
| Catie Benson | Prop | Life West Gladiatrix | 17 |
| Amy Naber-Bonté | Center | Life West Gladiatrix | 1 |
| Stacey Bridges | Second row | Beantown Rugby | 36 |
| Ashlee Byrge | Scrumhalf | USA Women's Sevens Residency | 0 |
| Elizabeth Cairns | Back row | Life West Gladiatrix | 8 |
| Gabriella Cantorna | Flyhalf | Glendale Merlins | 3 |
| Jennine Duncan | Back Three | Seattle Saracens | 2 |
| Fane "Eti' Haungatau | Center | USA Women's Sevens Residency | 0 |
| Emily Henrich | Center | Dartmouth College | 2 |
| Katana Howard | Flyhalf | Twin City Amazons | 0 |
| Charli Jacoby | Prop | Chicago North Shore | 0 |
| Nick James | Prop | Houston Athletic | 6 |
| Rachel Johnson | Back Row | Oregon Rugby Sports Union | 3 |
| Alev Kelter | Center | USA Women's Sevens Residency | 9 |
| Joanna Kitlinski | Hooker | Glendale Merlins | 8 |
| Bulou Mataitoga | Fullback | Berkeley All Blues | 0 |
| Olivia Ortiz | Scrumhalf | Davenport University | 0 |
| Neariah "Nene' Persinger | Wing | Unattached | 0 |
| Hope Rogers | Hooker/Prop | USA Women's Sevens Residency | 25 |
| Asinate Serevi | Back Row/ Second Row | Scion Rugby | 2 |
| Kristine Sommer | Flanker |
Seattle Saracens |
7 |
| Nicole Strasko | Second Row / Back Row | Life West Gladiatrix | 3 |
| Joyce Taufa | Back Row | Lindenwood University | 3 |
| Kris Thomas | Wing | USA Women's Sevens Residency | 7 |
| Alycia Washington | Second Row | New York Rugby | 17 |
| Kate Zackary (C) | Back Row | San Diego Surfers | 9 |
INJURY RESERVES
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tess Feury | Wing | Morris | 6 |
| Megan Foster | Fullback | San Diego Surfers | 5 |
| Sam Luther | Second row | Glendale Merlins | 0 |
| Christiane Pheil | Back row | Atlanta Harlequins | 8 |
| Shamira Robles | Back Three | New York Rugby | 0 |
| Kimber Rozier | Center | Beantown | 31 |
| Carly Waters | Halfback | New York Rugby | 2 |
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM STAFF
General Manager | Emilie Bydwell
Head Coach | Rob Cain
Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Assistant Coach Rich Ashfield
Coach/Team Manager | Jenny Lui
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | Ian Jones
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | Michaela Staniford
Head Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Team Doctor | Terrence Cronin
Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry
Athletic Trainer | Danielle Allen
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