TUTUKAKA, NZL – Excitement and anticipation begins to materialize as the USA Women’s Eagles are now days away from the start of Rugby World Cup competition.
With their first pool match against Italy on the doorstep, Head Coach Rob Cain has named his starters and reserves to face the team sitting just above his squad in the World Rugby rankings. With the majority of planning and preparation now complete, the United States are excited to finally take the pitch, play rugby and represent their country, families and personal journeys on the world’s biggest stage. USA vs Italy kicks off Saturday October 8 at 7:45PM ET, streaming LIVE on Peacock and a delayed broadcast on CNBC at 1:00PM ET, Sunday October 9.
The USA Women’s Eagles have been in New Zealand for nearly two weeks now with regular training and groundwork filling their schedule, along with some special events mixed in to commemorate the occasion of a Rugby World Cup. The opening match against Italy is a special one as it will be the first opportunity to make a mark on this tournament and move up the world rankings as the Italians sit just above the USA in fifth place. Italy’s results in the lead up to New Zealand have been coincidentally similar to the United States, with tough matchups against top nations, victories over Scotland and Wales during the spring's TikTok Women’s Six Nations and a closely contested loss to Canada. Spending three weeks assembled in Atlanta before their own preparatory fixtures in the UK, Cain’s group will work on lessons from extended camps and recent wins and losses as they step onto the pitch at the Northland Events Center in Whangarei.
The last result for the USA was harsh on paper, but the game script would say otherwise as the Eagles lost 54-14 to England. Notable takeaways from that match were how the tables can turn when the USA pressure is clicking. The second half was a testament to that as connectivity on defense began to flow and force English penalties, resulting in a few tries and positive second half performance. With their time training in Atlanta and prior to in New Zealand, the USA will look to replicate that second half tenacity against Italy this weekend.
Competitively, the pieces are in place and emotionally this USA squad is excited to get under way. Veterans of the group will see five long years since Ireland come to a head, rewarding the ups and downs between tournaments; while 14 of the rostered 23 will see a dream realized as they step onto the pitch for their first Rugby World Cup. This Dream has not come easy for the group with many challenges faced, from a self-funding in the Women’s Premier League, to uprooting their lives to the United Kingdom and the many additional sacrifices along this road. Each player and coach cannot wait for the first whistle to blow and compete as one USA team.
“Thank you for all the words of support, encouragement and messages shared this past week. Lots of work has gone into just being here to compete, lots of challenges have been faced as individuals and as a group, but collectively we are both determined and excited to get our Rugby World Cup games started.
I want to congratulate everyone making their Rugby World Cup debut and for the handful of players who have managed to secure their place for a second time. Lastly, Hope, for what will be her third Rugby World Cup. All are wonderful achievements and testament to each player's drive, development and longevity of form.
We have hit the ground running and spent the acclimation time refining the key areas we feel are both strengths and needs for improvement. Not having as many Test match opportunities in 2022 as other countries, we created the opportunity for a closed doors training session with Wales and want to thank them for such a beneficial session as we look to be best prepared before kickoff this Sunday. There has been lots of work put in since our arrival, but none more important than the nine players who have worked tirelessly to best prepare the people around them. Their efforts and altruism this week have really set the tone.
Italy have been building a core of very experienced players for some time now, through the Six Nations and collectively are a tenacious team who thoroughly deserve their 5th world ranking. Italy's pack and ability to move the ball forward and create the type of speed and ball movement their team wants are key to their success.
As a group we can't wait to get underway, to showcase our work, our identity and represent the USA Rugby family on the world's biggest stage.”
| NAME | HOMETOWN | CLUB | CAPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hope Rogers | Chambersburg, PA | Exeter Chiefs | 37 |
| 2. Joanna Kitlinski | Denver, CO | Sale Sharks | 20 |
| 3. Nick James | Dublin, TX | Sale Sharks | 21 |
| 4. Hallie Taufoou | Meridian, ID | Loughborough Lightning | 7 |
| 5. Jenny Kronish | New York, NY | Harlequins (ENG) | 4 |
| 6. Jordan Matyas | Calgary, AB | USA Sevens | 22 |
| 7. Rachel Johnson | Portland, OR | Exeter Chiefs | 14 |
| 8. Kate Zackary (C) | Wichita, KS | Exeter Chiefs | 23 |
| 9. Carly Waters | Downingtown, PA | Sale Sharks | 12 |
| 10. Gabby Cantorna | State College, PA | Exeter Chiefs | 14 |
| 11. Charlotte "Lotte" Clapp | Welwyn Garden, ENG | Saracens | 4 |
| 12. Katana Howard | Hopkins, MN | Sale Sharks | 12 |
| 13. Eti Haungatau | Sacramento, CA | Lindenwood University | 4 |
| 14. Jennine Detiveaux | Jonesborough, TN | Exeter Chiefs | 11 |
| 15. Alev Kelter | Eagle River, AK | Saracens | 19 |
| 16. Kathryn Treder | Anchorage, AK | Beantown RFC | 6 |
| 17. Catie Benson | Buffalo, NY | Sale Sharks | 28 |
| 18. Charli Jacoby | Chicago, IL | Exeter Chiefs | 14 |
| 19. Kristine Sommer | Seattle, WA | Seattle Rugby Club | 21 |
| 20. Georgie Perris-Redding | Nantwich, ENG | Sale Sharks | 4 |
| 21. Olivia Ortiz | Grand Haven, MI | Colorado Gray Wolves | 11 |
| 22. Meya Bizer | Woodlands, TX | Beantown RFC | 22 |
| 23. Tess Feury | Denville, NJ | Wasps | 12 |
Head Coach | Rob Cain
Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke
Assistant Coach | Martin Haag
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Head Strength & Conditioning | Sylvia Braaten
Head Athletic Trainer | Hilary Stepansky
Assistant Athletic Trainer | Janie Kluempers
Team Doctor | Dr Leigh Romero
Team Masseuse | Cheniek Den Heyer
Lead Analyst | Callum Howells
Team Media Manager | Taylor Dean
Mental Performance | Tracy Carrington
Team Manager | Annemarie Farrell
Team Manager | Steve Downie
Remote Support | Jenny Lui & Rich Ashfield
Saturday, Oct 8 7:45 PM ET
Watch LIVE on Peacock with a delayed airing on CNBC (Sun, Oct 9, 1:00 PM ET)
Northland Events Center, Whangarei, NZL
Saturday, Oct 15 12:30 AM ET (Friday, Oct 14 for all other US time zones)
Watch LIVE on Peacock with a delayed airing on CNBC (Sun, Oct 15, 10:00 AM ET)
Northland Events Center, Whangarei, NZL
Saturday, Oct 22 10:15 PM ET
Watch LIVE on Peacock with a delayed airing on CNBC (Sun, Oct 23, 11:30 AM ET)
Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, NZL
