The USA Women’s U23s will be wearing the XV Foundation and New England Free Jacks logos on their sleeves this week during their Border Battle matches against Canada, recognizing funding support for the series in Quincy, Massachusetts.
In addition to hosting the two-match border battle at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the 2023 MLR Champions, Free Jacks, donated to the USA Women’s U23s program to help the athletes travel to Massachusetts. Continuing to drive the sustainability of the USA Women’s Eagles Pathway, the XV Foundation also provided financial support for the U23s program. Founded by Eagles Kristine Sommer and Alycia Washington, the XV Foundation was created to provide support in donations to help grow and empower women’s rugby in the United States.
“It has been very powerful to feel the support from the rugby community – in particular the efforts of the XV Foundation and the Free Jacks – to make this event special and promote these athletes. There is wonderful momentum growing in the pathways. Our combined efforts to eliminate barriers to entry for the next generation of Women’s Eagles will make an immediate impact on the success and inclusivity of our Women’s National Team."
“XV Foundation is excited to have the opportunity to support the U23s in the Border Battle matches against Canada! This opportunity allows us to support yet another piece of the women’s pathway. We want every player to have the opportunity to wear the jersey and not be bound by financial constraints. It is our intention to support these players as much as possible to provide more integration of young talent into the national player pool. Rugby World Cup 2033 is right around the corner. Realistically many of these players, and others in the pathway, will be playing on home soil. These competitions are extremely important as they provide more experience and exposure to the professional game. We can’t wait to watch them compete.”
"It's been a pleasure working with the Free Jacks and XV Foundation in bringing this event to life. Working so closely on a number of Women’s rugby projects with both the XV Foundation and the New England Free Jacks is a testament to the greatness and power of a team in our sport. Year-round Junior and Senior National Team assemblies are made possible by generous contributions from organizations and donors alike, we encourage USA Eagles fans to continue supporting the pathway programs as we look ahead to an exciting few years to come.
