The USA Women’s Eagles Sevens travel to Hamilton, New Zealand for the first tournament of 2023 in their quest for Olympic qualification. The Eagles will face Spain, Brazil, and Ireland in pool play beginning on Friday, January 20. All matches will be live on Peacock.
Head Coach Emilie Bydwell retains the core group of athletes that played in Dubai and Cape Town and enters the Hamiilton stop with a third-place World ranking.
Lauren Doyle returns to the pitch after injury, in her now 10th HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, and joins Naya Tapper as co-captain. Sammy Sullivan returns to the pitch after making her debut in Dubai last December, where she was an offensive threat in Dubai and Cape Town, with game-winning tries which were helped the team win bronze medals at both tournaments.
The Eagles’ first Pool C match is against Spain, then Brazil, and finally against Ireland.
USA Women’s Sevens Roster | Hamilton Sevens
| Name | Position | HSBC Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cheta Emba (she/her) | Prop/Hooker | 24 |
| 2. Ilona Maher | Center/Prop | 19 |
| 3. Kayla Canett | Flyhalf / Scrumhalf | 16 |
| 4. Nicole Heavirland | Hooker/Scrumhalf | 30 |
| 5. Alex “Spiff” Sedrick | Flyhalf/Center | 8 |
| 6. Alena Olsen | Scrumhalf | 11 |
| 7. Naya Tapper (C) | Wing/Prop | 28 |
| 9. Joanne “Nana” Fa’avesi (she/her) | Prop | 25 |
| 11. Kristen Thomas | Hooker/Prop | 34 |
| 12. Kristi Kirshe (she/her) | Center/Prop | 15 |
| 22. Sammy Sullivan | Prop | 2 |
| 23. Lauren Doyle (C) | Wing | 34 |
| 99. Jaz Gray | Wing | 8 |
USA Women’s Sevens Traveling Staff
Head Coach | Emilie Bydwell (she/her)
Athletic Trainer | Nicole Titmas (she/her)
Strength & Conditioning | Trey Ford
Sports Psychologist | Peter Haberl (he/him)
USA Women’s Sevens Hamilton Schedule
Friday, Jan. 20
- v. Spain | 5:00 p.m. ET
- v. Brazil | 8:40 p.m. ET
- v. Ireland | 11:12 p.m. ET
- Live on Peacock
Knockout stages begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 21.
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