Head Coach Emilie Bydwell announced today the 13 athletes heading to Singapore SVNS in the team’s last SVNS tournament ahead of the season finale in Madrid.
Currently sitting fourth in the World Series standings and after back-to-back podium performances in LA and Hong Kong, the team is in a solid position to qualify for the Madrid SVNS. The Singapore roster features a core group of experienced Olympians in Captain Lauren Doyle, Alev Kelter, Nana Fa’avesi, Nicole Heavirland, and Kayla Canett, who are complemented by the emerging talent in the program that have fought hard all year for the opportunity to put their hand up for Olympic selection.
Nicole Heavirland returns to the playing roster following recovery of a leg injury sustained in Perth. Jessica Lu will have the opportunity to play in her first SVNS tournament. Lu joined residency with the USA Sevens in February 2023. Nana Fa’avesi also joins the squad for her first SVNS tournament of the season. Naya Tapper and Ariana Ramsey remain in Chula Vista as they recover from injuries.
Singapore SVNS kicks off Thursday night, May 2, live on RugbyPass. Semifinals and finals will be simulcast on Peacock.
“I am incredibly excited for the roster that we have selected for Singapore. I believe that we are a top four program, and this event gives us the chance to not only continue to build on the objectives we laid out for both Hong Kong and Singapore but also to trial different combinations and adapt how we play to maximize the strengths of the group selected. I want to congratulate Jessica Lu on her well earned first cap, she has been working extremely hard over the last 14 months for this opportunity and she will now have the chance to express her strengths on the world stage. Our pool competition will test us in different ways, and we will need to make sure that we prioritize playing our way together while staying connected, present, and committed to delivering the collective determination that has come to define our team.”
The Eagles begin their Singapore tour against South Africa, who they most recently defeated in the Los Angeles SVNS quarterfinal match. Eleventh in the 2024 SVNS standings, the physical South Africa side will be looking to finish Singapore on a high note.
The USA’s second matchup is against Japan, who have been improving all season. Coming off a seventh place finish in Hong Kong after defeating Ireland, Japan is heading into Singapore with confidence to jump up the ranks.
Rounding out pool play against France, the USA will look to repeat the results of their 19-5 semifinal win in Hong Kong. Sitting only six points below France in the standings to jump to third, the USA will fight for a three-game win streak against France.
| Name | Position | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cheta Emba | Prop/Hooker | 32 |
| 3. Kayla Canett | Flyhalf | 27 |
| 4. Nicole Heavirland | Hooker/ Scrum half | 37 |
| 5. Alev Kelter | Center | 45 |
| 6. Alena Olsen | Scrumhalf | 22 |
| 9. Nana Fa’avesi | Hooker/Prop | 27 |
| 13. Sarah Levy | Hooker | 9 |
| 16. Jessica Lu | Scrumhalf / Center | Debut |
| 19. Kaylen Thomas | Wing | 1 |
| 22. Sammy Sullivan | Prop | 12 |
| 23. Lauren Doyle (C) | Flyhalf | 44 |
| 27. Summer Harris-Jones | Prop | 4 |
| 99. Jaz Gray | Wing | 13 |
Head Coach | Emilie Bydwell
Assistant Coach | Zack Test
Strength & Conditioning | Trey Ford
Athletic Trainer | Nicole Titmas
Thursday, May 2
v South Africa | 11:22 pm ET
Friday, May 3
v Japan | 4:32 am ET
v France | 11:22 pm ET
Saturday, May 4
Knockouts begin 4:27 am ET
Sunday, May 4
Knockouts continue
