USA U23 Women to Play in Border Series with Canada
USA U23 Women to Play in Border Series with Canada
Add two more fixtures to the summer list of national team games, as the USA U23 Women will play Canada in a two-match Border Battle hosted by the New England Free Jacks Major League Rugby team.
The games will be held July 26 (7PMET) and July 30 (Noon ET) at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Mass., where the Free Jacks play.
“Free Jacks have a renowned match day scene, and we are really looking forward to sharing this fun festival and professional experience with the burgeoning fans of our sport here in New England and these quality rising US and Canadian stars," said New England Free Jacks Co-Founder and CEO Alex Magleby. "With the Rugby World Cup only two years away, many of the players in this group should be competing for those precious roster spots. Beyond that, many are at the right age to peak as we head into a home Rugby World Cup in 2033. Senior Team Captain Kate Zackary is a great example of where these future stars could be in 10 years time. This will be a next generation showcase with a great rivalry packaged in an awesome festival atmosphere you won’t want to miss.”
The U23s recently played in a series with the senior national teams from Brazil and Colombia, tying Brazil and defeating Colombia 27-24.
USA U23s Hold Off Colombia; Go 1-0-1 in South America
Head Coach Katie Dowty was pleased with that showing.
“Our U23s announced themselves in Brazil, proving their ability to compete and win at the international level," said Dowty. "We now have a special opportunity to build upon the foundations, connections and lessons the group took away from that tour as we go to battle against the Canadian U23s. This incredibly talented group, several of whom are already making an impact on the senior squad, will be joined by even more exciting new talent identified at the recent U23 All-Star Tournament. At a key time in their development, these consecutive competitions are rapidly accelerating the growth and confidence of our up-and-coming Eagles, preparing this exciting generation to win on the world stage.
“The team now gets the chance to play on home soil and introduce the rugby fans of New England and beyond to their incredibly physical and dynamic style of play. They are so fun to watch; their personalities and passion shine on the pitch and they represent so many rugby communities throughout the country. With the additional support of the Free Jacks and XV Foundation, we have every intention of making these players known to USA rugby fans everywhere while inspiring more young girls and boys throughout the community to pick up a rugby ball.”
Tickets to the Border Battle series will be available shortly, with a free live stream of both games on The Rugby Network.
