# United States women's national rugby union team

The USA Women's National Team XVs represents the United States in women's international rugby union. The team was officially formed in 1987 and is nicknamed the Eagles.
An international powerhouse during the 1990s— the Eagles won the inaugural 1991 Women's World Cup and finished second in the two following World Cups in 1994 and 1998. The team finished fourth at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
In May 2018, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach. Cain joined the Eagles after winning the inaugural Tyrell Premier 15s title in England with Saracens Women.

## History

(Source: US Women's Rugby Foundation)
The history of women's rugby in the United States can be traced back to three teams that existed in 1972 – the Colorado State University Hookers at Fort Collins; the University of Colorado, at Boulder; and the University of Illinois, at Champaign. During the mid-1970s women's teams began to spring up on college campuses across the United States. As those players graduated they went on to set up teams near cities and urban centers. At that time there was only one division for all women's rugby. In 1975, United States Rugby Football Union was formed and contained four territories. At this time the women had their own Board of Directors and followed in parallel USARFU with four territories (East, Midwest, West and Pacific). In 1978, the first Women's National Championships was held. The Chicago Women's Rugby Club in Chicago, Illinois hosted this event. The winner of that championship was Portland, Maine.

### 1980s–1997

In 1985, the first semblance of a national team was formed. An ‘invitation-only’ team was put together and made up of, arguably, the top women playing the game at the time. The team was named WIVERN and toured throughout England and France. The team finished the tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to be selected for the 1991 World Cup Team.
In 1987 the USA women's national team was officially born with their first match against the Canadian women's national team. Although the women were not permitted to wear the Eagle logo, this match was sanctioned by Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. USA and Canada began holding an annual match, which became known as the CanAm series. For ten years the Women Eagles went undefeated in this test series.
In 1990, the women's national team, competing under the name “USA Presidents 15,” traveled to New Zealand to compete in the historic Women's World Rugby Festival. The WNT posted a record of 3–1 with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand. In 1991 the first Women's Rugby World Cup was held in Cardiff, Wales. Coached by Beantown's Kevin O’Brien, a Welshman himself, and Minnesota's Chris Leach, a South African the stage was set for the US women to bring home the Cup. Defeating New Zealand in semi-final play, the USA women advanced to the finals where they defeated England. Also in 1991 the first woman was elected to serve on the USARFU Board of Directors. Jamie Jordan was elected Treasurer for the Board.
In 1997, The U23 women's national team was formed. USA Women's National Team Head Coach Franck Boivert appointed Penn State Coach Peter Steinberg to be Head Coach for the U23 Women's National Team program. At an event in the CanAm Series the US Women's National Team celebrated their 10-year anniversary by cheering on the Women's U23 National Team in their first test against Canada.

### Present

The USA Women's National Team XVs finished fourth at Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland which earned them automatic qualification to the next World Cup in New Zealand in 2021. In early 2018, the program hired former Women's National Team player Emilie Bydwell to serve as its General Manager of Women's High Performance. Soon after in May, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach and has since helped lead the program in a new direction.
The Women's National Team Program fields a number of age-grade and development programs including the High School All-Americans (U18), Under-20s, Collegiate All-Americans and USA Selects. All age-grade and development programs are umbrellaed under the national team program and serve as a feeder to the senior Women's Eagles.

## Record
### Overall

See List of United States women's national rugby union team matches

#### Full internationals only

Correct as of October 11, 2024
| Opponent | First game | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
| Australia | 1997 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75% |
| Canada | 1987 | 46 | 19 | 0 | 27 | 41.3% |
| England | 1991 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4.76% |
| France | 1996 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 14.29% |
| Ireland | 1994 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 55.56% |
| Italy | 2012 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50% |
| Japan | 1994 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| Kazakhstan | 2010 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Netherlands | 1990 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| New Zealand | 1990 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 6.25% |
| Russia | 1998 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Samoa | 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Scotland | 1998 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.43% |
| South Africa | 2009 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.33% |
| Soviet Union | 1990 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Spain | 1998 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Sweden | 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Wales | 1993 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Total | 1987 | 153 | 67 | 2 | 84 | 43.79% |

### Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup :
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad |
| 1991 | Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 6 | Squad |
| 1994 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 387 | 53 | Squad |
| 1998 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 200 | 76 | Squad |
| 2002 | 7th place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 124 | 43 | Squad |
| 2006 | 5th place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 47 | Squad |
| 2010 | 5th place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 136 | 82 | Squad |
| 2014 | 6th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 95 | 139 | Squad |
| 2017 | 4th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 135 | Squad |
| 2021 | Quarter-final | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 100 | Squad |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2033 | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts | Automatically Qualified as Hosts |
| Total | Champions | 42 | 26 | 0 | 16 | 1301 | 681 | Squad |
| Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place * Tied placing $^†$ Best placing Home venue |||||||||

## Players
### Current squad

On September 14, Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka, announced the Eagles 30-player squad to travel to the WXV 1 competition.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Alev Kelter | Centre | (1991-03-21)March 21, 1991 (aged 33) | 23 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Alivia Leatherman | Prop | (2002-08-09)August 9, 2002 (aged 22) | 5 | Life West Gladiatrix |
| Atumata Hingano | Centre | (1998-08-02)August 2, 1998 (aged 25) | 6 | USA Sevens |
| Bulou Mataitoga | Fullback | (1994-04-08)April 8, 1994 (aged 30) | 18 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Cassidy Bargell | Scrum-half | (1999-12-28)December 28, 1999 (aged 24) | 2 | Beantown RFC |
| Catie Benson | Prop | (1992-02-10)February 10, 1992 (aged 32) | 45 | Sale Sharks |
| Charli Jacoby | Prop | (1989-10-09)October 9, 1989 (aged 34) | 29 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Cheta Emba | Fullback | (1993-07-16)July 16, 1993 (aged 31) | 9 | USA Sevens |
| Emerson Allen | ?? | | 1 | Life West Gladiatrix |
| Emily Henrich | Centre | (1999-11-10)November 10, 1999 (aged 24) | 18 | Leicester Tigers |
| Erica Jarrell | Prop | (1999-02-25)February 25, 1999 (aged 25) | 10 | Sale Sharks |
| Gabby Cantorna | Fly-half | (1995-08-02)August 2, 1995 (aged 29) | 30 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Hallie Taufo'ou | Second row | (1994-05-26)May 26, 1994 (aged 30) | 19 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Hope Rogers | Prop | (1993-01-07)January 7, 1993 (aged 31) | 47 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Joanne Fa'avesi | ?? | (1992-02-05)February 5, 1992 (aged 32) | 7 | USA Sevens |
| Kate Zackary (c) | Number 8 | (1989-07-26)July 26, 1989 (aged 35) | 37 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Kathryn Treder | Hooker | (1996-03-13)March 13, 1996 (aged 28) | 22 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Keia Mae Sagapiolu | Prop | (2000-05-12)May 12, 2000 (aged 24) | 11 | Leicester Tigers |
| Kris Thomas | ?? | (1993-07-01)July 1, 1993 (aged 31) | 11 | USA Sevens |
| Maya Learned | Prop | (1996-01-01)January 1, 1996 (aged 28) | 13 | Colorado Gray Wolves |
| McKenzie Hawkins | Fly-half | (1997-01-08)January 8, 1997 (aged 27) | 17 | Colorado Grey Wolves |
| Paige Stathopoulos | Hooker | (1993-08-23)August 23, 1993 (aged 31) | 10 | Beantown RFC |
| Rachel Ehrecke | Flanker | (1999-12-06)December 6, 1999 (aged 24) | 15 | Colorado Grey Wolves |
| Rachel Johnson | Flanker | (1991-02-05)February 5, 1991 (aged 33) | 29 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Sophie Pyrz | ?? | | 2 | Life West Gladiatrix / Rhinos |
| Summer Harris-Jones | ?? | (1996-06-27)June 27, 1996 (aged 28) | 4 | USA Sevens |
| Tahlia Brody | Back row | (1994-09-10)September 10, 1994 (aged 30) | 12 | Leicester Tigers |
| Taina Tukuafu | Scrum-half | (2001-08-18)August 18, 2001 (aged 23) | 10 | Berkeley All Blues |
| Tess Feury | Fullback | (1996-03-15)March 15, 1996 (aged 28) | 28 | Leicester Tigers |
| Tessa Hann | ?? | | 1 | Colorado Gray Wolves |

### Previous squads

World Cup Squads :
vteUnited States squad – 2021 Rugby World CupForwards
Ashenbrucker
Benson
Cairns
Hayward
Jacoby
James
Jarrell
K. Johnson
R. Johnson
Kitlinksi
Kronish
Learned
Matyas
Perris-Redding
Rogers
Sommer
Taufo'ou
Treder
Zackary
Backs
Bizer
Cantorna
Clapp
Detiveaux
Feury
Foster
Haungatau
Hawkins
Howard
Kahele
Kelter
Ortiz
Waters
Coach: Cain
vteUnited States squad – 2017 Rugby World CupForwards
Augustyn
Benson
Bridges
Gray
Gustaitis
James
Pankey
Parsons
Pheil
Reddick
Reinhardt
Rogers
Sommer
Washington
Zackary
Backs
Braaten
Canett
Emba
Faʻaeʻe
Heavirland
Javelet
Kelter
Owsiany
Feury
Rozier
Tapper
Thomas
Wooden
Coach: Steinberg
vteUnited States squad – 2014 Rugby World CupForwards
Augustyn
Wagner
Burke
Chobot
Reddick
Rogers
Wilson
Daly
Farmer
Walsh
Kugler
Potter
Turley
Blaney
Daley
Backs
Owsiany
Tseng
Anderson
Rozier
Bizer
Braaten
Bydwell
Marchino
McGee
Baravilala
Stolba
Coach: Steinberg
vteUnited States squad – 2010 Rugby World CupForwards
Burke
Douglas
Vivolo
Butts
Wagner
Wallace
Blaney
Bridges
Potter
Denham
Knight
Royce
Zdanczewicz
Groefsema
Backs
Braymer
Magrini
Bydwell
Daniels
Kanuk
Kugler
Folayan
Marchino
McGee
English
Kmiecik
Ringgenber
Coach: Flores
vteUnited States squad – 2006 Rugby World CupSquad
Hedwig Aerts
Kristin Baja
Claudia Braymer
Jamie Burke
Laura Cabrera
Erin Carter
Kate Cox
Jen Crouse
Carrie Dubray
Ashley English
Heather Hale
Patty Jervey
Ellie Karvoski
Lee Knight
Phaidra Knight
Pam Kosanke
Laura McDonald
Kelly McMahon
Danielle Miller
Pat Neder
Tina Nesberg
Meredith Ottens
Kate Pope
Mari Wallace
Keenya Warner
Kristin Zdanczewicz
Coach: Kathy Flores
vteUnited States squad – 2002 Rugby World CupForwards
Crouse
Fenske
Fitz (c)
Foley
Gerhke
Kirk
Knight
Lake
Metzger
Ottens
Sandquist-Reuter
Sikora
Williams
Backs
Aerts
Baja
Caplan
Cyganik
Dahlberg
Davis
Hale (vc)
Jervey
Karvoski
McCabe
Rodriguez
Stewart
Wallison
Coach: Gallagher
vteUnited States squad – 1998 Rugby World CupSquad
Shalanda Baker
Jos Bergman
Barbara Bond
Stacy Boyle
Carol Burdick
Jen Crawford
Tammy Eckert
Nancy Fitz
Sheri Hunt
Pamela Irby
Patricia Jervey
Michelle Johnson
Kim Kaleiwahine
Elizabeth Kirk
Keirsten Lawton
Krista McFarren
Candice Orsini
Meredith Ottens
Erina Queen
Jennifer Renne
Lisa Rowe
Diane Schnapp
May Sorensen
Terese Taylor
Tricia Turton
Amy Westerman
Alexandra Williams
vteUnited States squad – 1994 Rugby World CupSquad
Bergman
Bond
Brooks
Connell
Crawford
Dixey
Drustrup
Flanagan
Flavin
Flores
Gray
Hill
Huffer
Hunt
Irby
Jervey
Kany
Kelly
Law
McFarren
Newton
Orsini
Pepper
Rutkowski
Sorenson
Spicer-Bourdon
Weix
Westerman
Williams
Coach: Boivert
vteUnited States squad – 1991 Rugby World CupForwards
Bond
Breckenridge
Fahey
Flanagan
Flavin
Flores
Godwin
Hertz
Hunt
Jervey
Kany
Law
Morrell
Rutkowski
Seabaugh
Sorenson
V. Sullivan
Thompson
Whitehead
Backs
Barford
Connell
Crawford
Dixey
Fugate
Harju
Henderson
Huffer
McFarren
Meredith
Moens
Morrissey
Orsini
M. Sullivan
Coach: O'Brien :

### Notable players

Two former Eagles have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame: Patty Jervey and Phaidra Knight.
Patty Jervey was inducted in 2014. She was the first player to play in five Women's Rugby World Cups. She won the inaugural tournament in 1991 and appeared in the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions. She made her Eagles debut in 1989 and has won 40 caps, and scored 178 points.
Phaidra Knight was inducted in 2017. She has been capped 35 times for the Eagles and has appeared at three Women's Rugby World Cups – 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was named USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2010. Knight also represented the USA Women's Sevens, from 2006 to 2009.

### Award winners

The following United States players have been recognized at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:
World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2003 | Kathy Flores | Kathy Flores |

## Coaches

| Name | Years |
| Kevin O'Brien | 1991 |
| Franck Boivert | 1994 |
| Martin Gallagher | 2002 |
| Kathy Flores | 2002–2011 |
| Peter Steinberg | 2011–2017 |
| Rob Cain | 2018–2024 |
| Sione Fukofuka | 2024–Present |