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UA Women 15s Performance Squad Named

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UA Women 15s Performance Squad Named

David BarUSA huddles up. David Barpal photo.

USA Rugby has announced its 2020 Performance Squad for the Women’s National Team XVs. Featuring 35-players, the squad serves as the top tier of the program’s player pool structure, named annually, which also includes an Extended Squad and a Watchlist.

The 2020 Performance Squad features a range of talent which includes:

  • A cumulative 276 test caps
  • 6 players who could make their national team debut this year
  • 3 players representing collegiate programs
  • 29 players representing the Women’s Premier League
  • 7 players who have competed in a Rugby World Cup
  • 24 players who were part of a USA Rugby age-grade program

All three groups within the Women’s Eagles player pool receive attention and support from national team staff; however, accountability and resources are most heavily attributed to the Performance Squad. Players within the Extended Squad and Watchlist represent those who show a potential to reach the top tier over time.

Selections for national team camps and competitions can be made from any of the three levels; as well as from the Women’s Sevens player pool pending selections and preparation for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The Women’s XVs and Sevens programs run collaboratively and offer athletes the opportunity to compete in both.

Alongside players, the program also welcomes three new members to its staff with Assistant Coach - Set piece Neil Harris, Strength & Conditioning Coach Sylvia Braaten and Team Manager Louise Stewart.

Harris joins the program after serving a similar role with Saracens Women from 2016 to 2019 where he was part of the group that won back-to-back Tyrell Premier 15s Championships. His appointment comes after spending time with the Women’s XVs during their Can-Am training camp last May.

Braaten is a former Women’s Eagle herself who played in the 2014 and 2017 World Cups and has served as a Strength & Conditioning coach for USA Rugby’s age-grade programs. Stewart comes from USA Touch where she served as Team Manager for the recently held World Cup in Malaysia.

“Well done to all the players who have been selected for this year’s High Performance Squad," said USA Head Coach Rob Cain. "It keeps getting harder for us as a coaching group to separate players as we aspire to create depth. We are fortunate to have the extended squad pushing so aggressively and this inner competition will continue to be vital as we carry through 2021 and beyond.

“We are very excited to have three new additions to our support staff in Neil, Sylvia and Louise. Neil has shown the impact of his approach with Saracens set piece and having both him and Jamie Burke will be a huge benefit to the program. Sylvia’s progression through the age-grade program has also been excellent and we are thrilled to have her experience in strength & conditioning and international rugby. Louise’s tour managerial experience and approach will also be a great benefit to the group and I am very much looking forward to working with all three.”

The program has been working in Regional Training Camps (RTC) all preseason. RTCs are not only a huge opportunity for players to connect with national team coaches, but also a window for the program to engage with the community.

Through the recently introduced Be The Impact initiative, communities can support the program by hosting a Regional Training Camp in their area; and in return, receive an national team hosted skills session or meet and greet for players of the local region.

For more information on hosting Regional Training Camps, please contact Emilie Bydwell at ebydwell@usa.rugby.

In addition to hosting RTCs, Be The Impact has also launched a February-specific campaign where all donations to the Women’s Eagles (up to $10,000) will be matched by USAR Board Member and Hall of Famer Phaidra Knight. Funds will be used directly to support operational costs and player fees for April and May high performance camps.

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PLAYER NAME

POSITION

CLUB

CAPS

Destiny Arena

Hooker

Lindenwood University

Uncapped

Bui Baravilala

Flyhalf / Center

San Diego Surfers

11

Catie Benson

Prop

Life West Gladiatrix

23

Stacey Bridges

Second Row

Beantown Rugby

40

Kaitlyn Broughton

Back 3

Glendale Merlins

5

Ashlee Byrge

Scrumhalf

San Diego Surfers

5

Elizabeth Cairns

Back Row

LIfe West Gladiatrix

11

Gabriella Cantorna

Flyhalf

Glendale Merlins

8

Jenny Kronish

Second Row

Glendale Merlins

Uncapped

Jennine Duncan

Wing

Seattle Saracens

7

Rachel Ehrecke

Back Row

Glendale Merlins

Uncapped

Tess Feury

Fullback

New York Rugby

6

McKenzie Hawkins

Center / Flyhalf

Glendale Merlins

3

Leti Hingano

Fullback

LifeWest Gladiatrix

2

Katana Howard

Fly Half

Twin City Amazons

4

Charli Jacoby

Prop

Chicago North Shore

6

Nick James

Prop

Houston Athletic

12

Rachel Johnson

Back Row

Oregon Rugby Union

7

Kathryn Johnson

Back Row

Twin City Amazons

2

Joanna Kitlinski

Hooker

Glendale Merlins

14

Maya Learned

Prop

Glendale Merlins

2

Sarah Levy

Wing

New York Rugby

2

Shelby Lin

Scrumhalf

Berkeley All Blues

Uncapped

Bulou Mataitoga

Fullback

Berkeley All Blues

3

Teigan McDonald

Back 3 / Center

San Diego Surfers

Uncapped

Olivia Ortiz

Scrumhalf

Davenport University / Chicago North Shore

5

Hope Rogers

Prop

Life West Gladiatrix

29

Kristine Sommer

Second Row

Seattle Saracens

13

Nicole Strasko

Back Row

LIfe West Gladiatrix

7

Amy Talei Bonte

Center

Life West Gladiatrix

6

Hallie Taufoou

Second Row

Richmond Women Rfc

Uncapped

Kathryn Treder

Hooker

Beantown Rugby

2

Alycia Washington

Second Row

New York Rugby

22

Carly Waters

Scrumhalf

Glendale Merlins

4

Kate Zackary

Back Row

San Diego Surfers

15



 

STAFF

 

Emilie Bydwell | Director of Women’s High Performance

Rob Cain | Head Coach

Kate Daley | Assistant Coach - Defense

Neil Harris | Assistant Coach - Set Piece

Richard Ashfield | Assistant Coach - Backs

Jenny Lui | Support Coach

Jamie Burke | Support Coach

Ian Jones | Head of Physical Performance

Sylvia Braaten | Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach

Conor Sweeney | Sports Scientist

Dave Gardner | Head of Performance Analysis

Callum Howells | Performance Analyst

Terrence Cronin | Team Doctor

Bri Arsenault | Head Athletic Trainer

Katherin Henry | Athletic Trainer

Louise Stewart | Team Manager