A trip to the quarterfinals at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will ensure early qualification to the 2024 Olympics for the USA Women’s Sevens squad as they prepare for their first appearance at the legendary tournament. Having medaled in every tournament so far this season, the Eagles will seek another piece of hardware to continue their record medal streak.
It will be a defining weekend in Hong Kong, as the USA Women’s Sevens have three strong opponents between them and Olympic qualification. All eyes will be on their pool matches against Japan, Spain, and France, each of which have their own strengths that the Eagles will have to adapt their gameplay for a chance to earn a spot to the quarterfinals.
Two regular squad names are absent from the traveling roster, as Ilona Maher will miss out on the remainder of the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series following an ankle injury sustained in practice and Sammy Sullivan reports for military obligations.
Steph Rovetti will return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens pitch for the first time since Cape Town in December. Having worked her way back to the world stage from a long injury recovery, the flyhalf and center will venture to Hong Kong.
“It’s heartbreaking for Ilona to miss out the remainder of the season from an injury in training - she is a true Highwoman and has been a major contributor to our team throughout the course of the season so far. We are thankful for her, and know that she will come back stronger off the back of this set back. As a team we are fully focused on maximizing the strengths of the touring squad, and making the adjustments required to get the best out of the players that are stepping into bigger roles on the world stage. Alex Sedrick and Steph Rovetti, in particular, are both dynamic and exciting players and offer us points of difference that we can use to expand how we play and provide different pictures and challenges to the opposition. We have known from the beginning of the season that it would take all 22 of our residents to achieve our goal of Olympic qualification and we are looking forward to seizing the opportunities presented to us in Hong Kong.”
Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens kicks off Friday, March 31, 2023, LIVE on Peacock.
The USA kicks off their Pool C play with Spain, who they last played in Hamilton for a 31-12 win. The Eagles will look to repeat the results and start their Hong Kong tour on a high note. The next Pool C matchup for the USA meets Japan, who they have only played once this season for a win in Cape Town. The Eagles will be looking at Japan’s improvements over the season to aim for another win.
The Eagles’ final pool match is up against 2024 Olympic hosts in France. The team has proved to be a challenging opponent all season, especially in a few bronze medal matches. With three losses against the USA in four of the matches played this season, France will look to reverse the result and check off another win before the Series end.
If all goes well in pool play and the women earn a spot to the Hong Kong Sevens quarterfinals, they will earn automatic qualification to the 2024 Olympics.
“We have it in the back of our minds that achieving certain results in pool play could result in automatic qualification for the Olympics. While this is exciting, we can’t veer away from our process that has allowed us to be in the position that we are in - going one game at a time and one moment at a time. All three pool teams will provide us with a different challenge and we will need to put our best foot forward from game one, minute one. We took a lot away from the Vancouver tournament, particularly our Australia semi final loss, that we are looking to build upon and will be focused on taking specific actions to put ourselves in a position to be a more effective defensive and attacking unit.”
| Name | Position | HSBC Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cheta Emba (she/her) | Prop/Hooker | 27 |
| 3. Kayla Canett | Flyhalf/Scrumhalf | 19 |
| 4. Nicole Heavirland | Hooker/Scrumhalf | 33 |
| 5. Alex “Spiff” Sedrick | Flyhalf/Center | 10 |
| 6. Alena Olsen | Scrumhalf | 14 |
| 7. Naya Tapper (C) | Wing/Prop | 31 |
| 10. Steph Rovetti | Flyhalf/Center | 8 |
| 11. Kristen Thomas | Hooker/Prop | 37 |
| 12. Kristi Kirshe (she/her) | Center/Prop | 18 |
| 15. Alev Kelter | Center/Flyhalf | 37 |
| 21. Ariana Ramsey | Scrumhalf/Wing | 1 |
| 23. Lauren Doyle (C) | Wing | 37 |
Head Coach | Emilie Bydwell (she/her)
Assistant Coach | Zack Test
Athletic Trainer | Nicole Titmas (she/her)
Strength & Conditioning | Trey Ford
Sports Psychologist | Peter Haberl (he/him)
Friday, March 31
v. Spain | 12:40 a.m. ET (Thursday night)
v. Japan | 4:40 a.m. ET
v. France | 9:09 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 1
Knockouts begin 2:15 a.m. ET
Sunday, April 2
Knockouts continue
