USA Women Blast Italy Early, Hold On for Win

10.17.2026Eagles

Hope Rogers scored two for the USA. Photo USA Rugby.

Author: Alex Goff

A huge first 50 minutes set up the Eagle women to hold on for an impressive but also too-close-for-comfort 36-27 win over Italy in Mansfield, Texas.

Determined to play fast and intense, the Eagles exploded out of the blocks with tries from co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding at 10 and 21 minutes, and all-time superstar Hope Rogers at 28 and 33 minutes. With Bella Vogel converting three out of those four the Eagles led 21-5 after 35 minutes.

Italy responded with a crucial try for the Azzurri just before halftime, but Perris-Reddings third of the day seven minutes into the second half the Eagles led 33-10.

But as time went on Italy started to claw back. Aura Muzzo and Vittoria Zanette scored tries to make it a bit closer at 33-22.

Vogel added a penalty goal with four minutes left to create a 14-point cushion. Francesca Granzotto's try at the end of the game made it 36-27, but there wasn't enough time for more.

Yes Italy came back, but the Eagles closed it out.

The second try of the game was a beauty. From the middle opf the field Vogel ghosted through a gap and quickly found Freda Tafuna in space. The hard-charging No. 8 unselfishly drew the defender and found Perris-Redding, who split the cover chaser to make the line.

Perris' Redding's third was a good team effort where the key play was Mae Sagapolu catching a ball at her hip and spinning into contact without losing possession. Right after that the skipper was over.

They scored from close-in, and they have been doing that, but Head Coach Jack Hanratty found he wasn't too concerned with that. "Our offload numbers are completely different [from earlier in the season] which is great to see," said Hanratty. "I thought, because we're scoring a lot from tight five or the maul, and I'm coaching the attack, is this even working? But, no, there have been certain moments that actually created some of those scoring chances."

They converted on scoring chances, but they also got full value. Both teams scored five tries, however, Italy converted only one, and Vogel was good on four of the five conversion attempts, and added a penalty goal.

USA 36
Tries: Perris-Redding 3, Rogers 2
Convs: Vogel 4
Pens: Vogel

Italy 27
Tries: Granzotto 2, Vecchini, Muzzo, Zanette
Convs: Granzotto

This this win the USA has now won four games in a row and is 3-0 in the WXV Global Series.

Year to Date WXV Global Series Scores:
England 48-15 Australia
Scotland 26-64 Canada
France 14-28 New Zealand
Spain 32-38 Fiji
Hong Kong China 29-24 Brazil
Netherlands 70-0 Samoa
Wales 50-19 South Africa
Samoa 21-61 Spain
Fiji 54-26 Hong Kong China
Brazil 15-17 Netherlands
Italy 55-21 Japan
England 26-26 Canada
France 29-26 Australia
Scotland 14-66 New Zealand
Ireland 35-40 USA
Fiji 20-17 Netherlands
Spain Ccld. Brazil
Hong Kong China 17-34 Samoa
Italy 29-41 South Africa
England 26-19 New Zealand
Wales 24-26 USA
Scotland 10-30 Australia
France 21-5 Canada
Ireland 31-24 Japan
Spain 0-20 South Africa
Canada 24-21 England
Australia 56-12 Scotland
New Zealand 81-12 France
USA 36-27 Italy