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Wales Women to Play Team of UK-Based USA Players

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Wales Women to Play Team of UK-Based USA Players

USA flanker Rachel Johnson, who plays for the Exeter Chiefs, is one of over 20 USA players currently in the English Premier 15s. Ian Muir photo.

GLENDALE, Colo. – USA Rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union today announced an exhibition match between Wales and a Women’s USA Falcons XVs squad comprised of UK-based players currently competing in the Allianz Premier 15s.

Scheduled to take place March 12, 2022, at Parc y Scarlets Stadium in Llanelli, Wales, the fixture will be a short yet valuable assembly for Head Coach Rob Cain’s players currently overseas. Wales enters the match as a warmup to the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations, while the USA rugby players will utilize the exhibition as a mid-season assembly in this Rugby World Cup year. Rosters and potential streaming details are yet to be confirmed but will be communicated when known.

The United States currently has 23 players from the Women’s Eagles player pool competing in the Allianz Premier 15s, where this international exhibition will act as a training assembly for players overseas with a US-based player assembly expected later in March. There are also USA players playing overseas in other competitions. Several of the players playing in the Premier 15s are getting major playing time and taking on key leadership roles. They are headed by Kate Zackary, the USA No. 8 and captain who is a star for the Exeter Chiefs. Several have joined clubs in the middle of the season.

USA Women Making Massive Impact in UK Premier 15s

“Thank you to all the stakeholders involved in helping create this opportunity," said USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach, Rob Cain. "I know I speak for all the players when I say it’s great to have another opportunity to play as a group after such a long period away pre our Autumn Tour. This and our assembly planned for later in March in the US creates some great platforms for the group to continue to build towards in 2022. We are excited for the players, excited that they have the benefit of playing regular rugby each week leading into this, excited to see how the learnings and experiences from this will translate when we are together.

“Wales are a full time program alongside all their players playing in the Allianz Premier 15s and have made significant strides as shown in their Autumn Test Series. Ioan and his team have been building well and playing some very confrontational exciting rugby. This will present a great challenge for us.”

“USA are sixth in the world and have been consistently one of the biggest threats in World Rugby in recent times," added Wales Head Coach, Ioan Cunningham. "They will be putting a side together largely from players involved in the Allianz Premier 15s, they play a high standard of rugby and will test us with their athletic ability and power game which is exactly what we need ahead of the Six Nations.”

Kickoff times and possible streaming details will be confirmed later.