The USA Women’s National Team 7s will open their Olympic season at home with the HSBC USA Women’s Sevens Glendale. As the opening round of the World Rugby Sevens Series 2019-20, the tournament takes place from Oct 5-6 with all matches broadcast LIVE on NBC Sports Gold. Tickets are available at usawomens7sglendale.com.

Head Coach Chris Brown has named an exciting group for the season opener in Glendale.

Fane Haungatau will debut in her first World Series event after spending the bulk of last season dedicated to development while also debuting with the Women’s Eagles in XVs. Haungatau was explosive against the Barbarians in April and went on to earn her first cap in XVs against England during the Super Series in June. Her physicality and game sense will be a compliment to the group in Colorado.

Coach Brown has also named a new Co-Captain in Abby Gustaitis who will join Lauren Doyle in leading the group to what the Eagles Sevens hope is another medal performance at home.

Regular faces in Ilona Maher, Naya Tapper and Kristi Kirshe will also be back in full force, looking to torch the field with the same exciting tries that dazzled audiences last season.

The full group owns 136 cumulative tournament appearances.

USA Squad For Glendale

1. Cheta Emba Prop/Wing

2. Ilona Maher Center/Prop

3. Abby Gustaitis (Co-Captain) Prop/Hooker

4. Nicole Heavirland Hooker/Scrumhalf

5. Alev Kelter Center/Prop

6. Lauren Doyle (Co-Captain) Flyhalf/Wing

7. Naya Tapper Wing/Prop

8. Jordan Matyas Prop

9. Stephanie Rovetti Flyhalf/Wing

10. Fane Haungatau Prop

11. Kasey McCravey Hooker/Flyhalf

12. Kristi Kirshe Center/Wing

*Not available for selection: Lilly Durbin, Joanne Fa’avesi, Alena Olsen, Kris Thomas

STAFF

Head Coach | Chris Brown

Strength & Conditioning | Matt Long

Athletic Trainer | Nicole Titmas

Sports Psychologist | Peter Haberl

Team Manager | Liz Strohecker

The USA Women will open against Brazil on Saturday, Oct 5 at 10:59 AM MT. Brazil competed in the Langford stop as an invitational team last season and finished last. Ireland will be up next who finished eighth overall but had after promising runs in the Glendale (6th) and Sydney (4th) stops of the Series. Pool play will conclude against France who missed out on Olympic qualification last season with a fifth place finish behind Australia.

“We’ve spent the past couple months revisiting a number of cultural aspects within the group while prioritizing getting our on-field foundation set for the season ahead," said USA Head Coach Chris Brown. “Although this preseason has been pretty short, with a full season behind us, we’re pleased to see ourselves clicking as a unit more quickly and effectively. We feel we are in a solid position to continue the progression seen last season and we are excited about attacking the mission we have for the 2020 World Series and then Olympics.”

WHERE TO WATCH

The HSBC USA Women’s Sevens in Glendale will be broadcast LIVE on NBC Sports Gold’s Rugby Pass which includes all women’s and men’s tournaments as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Fans can purchase their subscription here.

 

GLENDALE SCHEDULE
vs Brazil | Sun, Oct 6 - 12:59 AM ET

vs Ireland | Sat, Oct 5 - 3:43 PM ET

vs France | Sat, Oct 5 - 6:35 PM ET

• Cup Quarterfinals for Pool B begin Sun, Oct 6 at 12:11 PM ET

• 9th Place Semifinals begin Sun, Oct 6 at 1:39 PM ET