The 2023 Pacific Four Series continues this weekend as the USA Women’s Eagles focus training on their second round match against Australia.
Interim head coach Rich Ashfield confirmed the match day 23 for USA v. Australia, kicking off Saturday, July 8, at 4pm ET. All matches will be live on FloRugby.
Three athletes are set to earn their first cap with the Eagles, while Captain Kate Zackary will notch her 30th test match appearance, becoming the 12th USA Women’s Eagle to earn the achievement. Zackary has also been rostered at Center for the match up with Australia, a position she’s commonly plays with Exeter, however now for the first time in a USA shirt. Paluvava’u Freda Tafuna, Taina Tukuafu, and Mona Tupou join the USA squad for the first time after a successful tour with the U23s in Brazil, which was captained by starting prop, Keia Mae Sagapolu. Evelyn Ashenbrucker will act as vice captain for Saturday's match.
A busy prep week led into camp at the 2023 Pacific Four Series for the Eagles, as they transitioned into focusing on their upcoming matchup with Australia. The two teams met last year in the 2022 Pacific Four Series, where the USA took a 16-14 win and will look to repeat those results on Saturday. A win against Australia will help determine the USA’s tier placement in WXV later this year.
In partnership with Mastercard, The World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 schedule optimizes and complements the existing women’s domestic and international competition calendars for 2023. The cross-regional, international competition also acts as one of the principal annual qualification routes for the top two tiers of WXV with the top three placed teams qualifying for WXV 1 and the fourth-placed team securing a place in WXV 2.
“The focus is really on us progressing from what we achieved in Spain. We brought in new caps and we want to move our game plan forward, try to play our game a little faster. The new debuts were all brought in for a reason. They are all exciting talents, and we want them to be able to express themselves and feel comfortable in this environment. Many of them have a long future ahead of them with the national teams.”
| Name | Club | Caps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Catie Benson | Sale Sharks | 34 |
| 2. Kathryn Treder | DMP Sharks | 10 |
| 3. Keia Mae Sagapolu | Central Washington University | 1 |
| 4. Evelyn Ashenbrucker (VC) | San Diego Surfers | 9 |
| 5. Hallie Taufoou | Beantown RFC | 8 |
| 6. Paluvava’u Freda Tafuna* | Lindenwood University | Yet to debut |
| 7. Georgie Perris-Redding | Sale Sharks | 7 |
| 8. Rachel Johnson | Exeter Chiefs | 19 |
| 9. Taina Tukuafu* | Lindenwood University | Yet to debut |
| 10. McKenzie Hawkins | Colorado Greywolves | 10 |
| 11. Lotte Clapp | Saracens | 9 |
| 12. Eti Haungatau | Sale Sharks | 10 |
| 13. Kate Zackary (C) | Exeter Chiefs | 29 |
| 14. Jennine Detiveaux | Knoxville Minx | 15 |
| 15. Tess Feury | Leicester Tigers | 16 |
| 16. Jett Hayward | Life West | 2 |
| 17. Charli Jacoby | Exeter Chiefs | 18 |
| 18. Mona Tupou* | EPA Lady Razorbacks | Yet to debut |
| 19. Rachel Ehrecke | DMP Sharks | 4 |
| 20. Tahlia Brody | Cheltenham Tigers | 1 |
| 21. Carly Waters | Sale Sharks | 18 |
| 22. Joanne Fa’avesi | USA Sevens | 4 |
| 23. Meya Bizer | DMP Sharks | 27 |
*Indicates uncapped player
Interim Head Coach | Richard Ashfield
Assistant Coach | Katie Dowty
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Strength & Conditioning | Sylvia Braaten
Head Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry
Athletic Trainer | Ken Look
Analyst | Caitlin Singletary
Team Doctor | Chau Bui
Team Doctor | Rachel Sachs-Bourne
Team Manager | Tim Westwood
Team Manager | Tiffany Lopez
Assistant Coach/Consultant | Mouritz Botha
v. Canada | 17-50 (L)
Location: Madrid, Spain
v. Australia | 4:00pm ET
Location: Ottawa, Canada
v. New Zealand | 4:00pm ET
Location: Ottawa, Canada
