USA Women’s Eagles vs England: 2019 Super Series

The USA Women’s Eagles will play their first test match of the year against No. 2 England this Friday, June 28 in the opening round of Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019. Kickoff is set for 1 PM Pacific Time at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, LIVE on FloRugby.com. Single day tickets start at only $19 with a full tournament pass available for only $69. To purchase and for a full schedule, visit usarugby.org/superseries2019.

USA Women’s Eagles

USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach Rob Cain has named a starting roster led by captain Kate Zachary, who could see up to six new players earn their first caps. Scrumhalf Ashlee Byrge, center Eti Haungatau and fullback Bulou Mataitoga will all make their national team debuts as starters, while Charli Jacoby, Olivia Ortiz, and Katana Howard have an opportunity to be capped as reserves.

Hope Rogers will play her first test match since Rugby World Cup 2017, after coming back from injury as part of the Eagles’ and Eagles Sevens player pools. Asinate Serevi played her last test match in 2015, after recovering from injury and completing her college degree. Both played for the Eagles against the Barbarians F.C. in April. (Recap, Preview)

Starting center Alev Kelter and reserve Kris Thomas move to 15s after playing with the USA Women’s Sevens who their first Gold medal in France and came in second in the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series. Kelter and Thomas played their last test matches in 15s at the 2017 Rugby World Cup.

England Red Roses

England Women‘s Head Coach Simon Middleton has named his side to play hosts USA Women in their first match of the Women’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego (KO 13:00 PDT/21:00 BST live on Sky Sports Mix).

“Centre Amber Reed will win her 50^th cap on Friday against the Eagles as she starts at inside centre. The 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup winner made her Test debut against France in 2012 and has scored 124 points during her career so far, scoring three tries.

Scrum-half Claudia Macdonald makes her first England start after four outings as a replacement, while Abbie Scott, who captained England for the first time against the USA in the Quilter Internationals in November, will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Sarah Hunter who is still going through return to play protocols following a concussion.

Hooker Heather Kerr, who played against England for Barbarians Women earlier this month, is named in the front row alongside Ellena Perry and Sarah Bern. Prop Chloe Edwards and hooker Clara Nielson are both set for their England debuts from the bench as both are named as finishers.”

THE USA vs England

The USA Women and England last met during the November Internationals 2018 with England winning 57-5. Starting wing Jennine Duncan scored her first career try in a rainy match in the United States’ second test match as a group.

Days later, pool players faced England Academy with the USA Selects winning 25-2. It was the first win for the Women’s National Team program under then-new Head Coach Rob Cain and subsequently, the team won a 19-10 test match over No. 8 Ireland to close the Autumn schedule.

The USA last match was against the Barbarians F.C. at Glendale, Colorado in April. The Eagles came back from a 17-point deficit to lead the Barbarians and lost by one point after a Barbarians try in the final seconds. It was the first ever match between a Barbarian side and a USA national team which saw a number of promising runs and impressive tries by the Eagles.

USA Women’s Head Coach ROB CAIN

“It’s been a great few days and weeks ahead of our first opportunity this Friday. We are all looking forward to the challenges that England will present to us. We know how dangerous they consistently are and proved again with their Six Nations success and being ranked 2nd in the world.”

“We have been consistently building, measuring and learning in the past 12 months. The players are excited, the staff is all excited for the players and this is another step on the path towards where we want to be. What’s exciting for me is knowing that as a group we are only just beginning to scratch the surface.”

England Head Coach Simon Middleton

“We performed well against the USA in the November Quilter internationals but we recognise this is a different time and place. We’re in a country that is incredibly passionate about their sport and so we expect a step up in performance from the USA. Our challenge first and foremost will be to better the energy and intensity they bring.”

2019 Super Series Squads: The USA vs England

USA Women’s Eagles: 1. Catie Benson (Life West Gladiatrix, 17 caps) 2. Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale Merlins, 8 caps) 3. Hope Rogers (USA Sevens, 25 caps) 4. Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens (USA)
Harlequins (ENG), 7 caps) 5. Stacey Bridges (Beantown Rugby, 36 caps) 6. Kate Zackary (C) (San Diego Surfers, 9 caps) 7. Joycelynn Taufa (Lindenwood University, 3 caps) 8. Asinate Serevi (Scion Rugby, 2 caps) 9. Ashlee Byrge (USA Sevens, 0 caps) 10. Gabriella Cantorna (Glendale Merlins, 3 caps) 11. Jennine Duncan (Seattle Saracens, 2 caps) 12. Eti Haungatau (USA Sevens, 0 caps) 13. Alev Kelter (USA Sevens, 9 caps) 14. Bui Baravilala (San Diego Surfers, 6 caps) 15. Bulou Mataitoga (Berkeley All Blues, 0 caps)
16. Nick James (Houston Athletic, 6 caps) 17. Charli Jacoby (Chicago North Shore, 0 caps) 18. Alycia Washington (New York Rugby, 17 caps) 19. Elizabeth Cairns (Life West Gladiatrix, 8 caps) 20. Olivia Ortiz (Davenport University, 0 caps) 21. Emily Henrich (Dartmouth College, 2 caps) 22. Kris Thomas (USA Sevens, 7 caps) 23. Katana Howard (Twin City Amazons, 0 caps) USA Expanded Squad

USA STAFF: General Manager Emilie Bydwell, Head Coach Rob Cain, Assistant Coaches Jamie Burke, Kate Daley, and Rich Ashfield, Coach/Team Manager Jenny Lui, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Ian Jones,
Head Performance Analyst Dave Gardner, Team Doctor Terence Cronin, Head Athletic Trainer Katherine Henry, Athletic Trainer Danielle Allen

England Red Roses: 1. Ellena Perry (Saracens Women – 3 caps) 2. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks – 16 caps) 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears Women – 25 caps) 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 9 caps) 5. Abbie Scott (capt) (Harlequins Ladies – 36 caps) 6. Jo Brown (Loughborough Lightning – 5 caps) 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens Women – 65 caps) 8. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women – 29 caps)
9. Claudia Macdonald (Wasps FC Ladies – 4 caps) 10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women – 13 caps) 11. Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 9 caps) 12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women – 49 caps) 13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning – 78 caps) 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries – 40 caps) 15. Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women – 22 caps) 16. Clara Nielson (Bristol Bears Women) 17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women – 10 caps) 18. Chloe Edwards (Harlequins Ladies) 19. Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning – 12 caps) 20. Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo Ladies – 6 caps) 21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 46 caps) 22. Millie Wood (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 4 caps)
23. Carys Williams (Loughborough Lightening – 4 caps) + Head Coach Simon Middleton,  Expanded Squad

World Rugby 2019 Super Series

Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019 – Round 1