Eagle Women Target RWC 7s in South Africa

09.05.2022

The Rugby World Cup 7s kicks off for the USA Women's National Team on Friday in Cape Town.

Unlike the men's team, which had a short turnaround following the LA Sevens August 27-28, the women have had some time to prepare for what will be a very unforgiving tournament. That preparation included a series of games at Chula Vista with Canada and Brazil.

The tournament is in a knockout format, so you have to win to keep in contention for the Cup. There is not wiggle room as in pool play.

The Eagles open up against a fast improving Poland side and cannot afford to start slowly. They will face Canada or China (OK, Canada) if they win and advance to the quarterfinals.

This team has had some special moments through the season, notably a tournament win in Malaga and a semifinal appearance in Seville. When the Eagles play well they move the ball and force defenses to run. They they just go with a one-pass and set-a-ruck approach, they don't do so well. This is an experienced USA team with nine on the list having played in more than 10 World Series events. Captain Lauren Doyle leads them all with 34, but Kristen Thomas has 32 and Nicole Heavirland 28.

Former West Point standout Sam Sullivan will make her USA 7s team debut at the World Cup, and she adds another spark of speed and elusiveness. But perhaps the bread and butter of the team will be the physicality and restart skills of Cheta Emba and Ilona Maher.

“After feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with our performances across the last two stops of the World Series, we entered into the summer training block with renewed hunger and ambition to improve as a team both on and off the field," said USA Head Coach Emilie Bydwell." We know we have the athleticism, talent and character to be consistent podium contenders but we need to be prepared to compete at every opportunity, fight for each other and nail the technical skills required to unleash the qualities that makes this team so special. We are very thankful to Brazil and Canada for making the trip to San Diego. The matches reaffirmed to us that when we commit to our game plan, we are exponentially more threatening as a unit and can ultimately express our individual super strengths more effectively."

Bydwell said the team's camp at Stellenbosch University has been very positive.

"The camp here in Stellenbosch has been excellent so far, we have everything that we could need at the facility and the city is beautiful to explore," she said. "Our theme for the first week of this campaign is all around pressure, how we work with that pressure as individuals, how we communicate in pressure situations and finally how we manage pressure as a team to maximize our opportunities and not fracture. We will have the perfect pressure test on Saturday when we have the opportunity to scrimmage Ireland and France - knowing that both teams present different challenges that we need to be prepared to adapt to and solve."

USA Women 7s Roster

1. Cheta Emba

2. Ilona Maher

3. Kayla Canett

4. Nicole Heavirland

5. Sam Sullivan

6. Lauren Doyle (C)

7. Naya Tapper

8. Jazamine Gray

9. Nana Fa’avesi

10. Alena Olsen

11. Kristen Thomas