USA Rugby has announced its 2020 Performance Squad for the Women’s National Team XVs. Featuring 35-players, the squad serves as the top tier of the program’s player pool structure, named annually, which also includes an Extended Squad and a Watchlist.

The 2020 Performance Squad features a range of talent which includes:

• A cumulative 276 test caps
• 6 players who could make their national team debut this year
• 3 players representing collegiate programs
• 29 players representing the Women’s Premier League
• 7 players who have competed in a Rugby World Cup
• 24 players who were part of a USA Rugby age-grade program

All three groups within the Women’s Eagles player pool receive attention and support from national team staff; however, accountability and resources are most heavily attributed to the Performance Squad. Players within the Extended Squad and Watchlist represent those who show a potential to reach the top tier over time.

Selections for national team camps and competitions can be made from any of the three levels; as well as from the Women’s Sevens player pool pending selections and preparation for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The Women’s XVs and Sevens programs run collaboratively and offer athletes the opportunity to compete in both.

Alongside players, the program also welcomes three new members to its staff with Assistant Coach - Set piece Neil Harris, Strength & Conditioning Coach Sylvia Braaten and Team Manager Louise Stewart.

Harris joins the program after serving a similar role with Saracens Women from 2016 to 2019 where he was part of the group that won back-to-back Tyrell Premier 15s Championships. His appointment comes after spending time with the Women’s XVs during their Can-Am training camp last May.

Braaten is a former Women’s Eagle herself who played in the 2014 and 2017 World Cups and has served as a Strength & Conditioning coach for USA Rugby’s age-grade programs. Stewart comes from USA Touch where she served as Team Manager for the recently held World Cup in Malaysia.

“Well done to all the players who have been selected for this year’s High Performance Squad," said USA Head Coach Rob Cain. "It keeps getting harder for us as a coaching group to separate players as we aspire to create depth. We are fortunate to have the extended squad pushing so aggressively and this inner competition will continue to be vital as we carry through 2021 and beyond.

“We are very excited to have three new additions to our support staff in Neil, Sylvia and Louise. Neil has shown the impact of his approach with Saracens set piece and having both him and Jamie Burke will be a huge benefit to the program. Sylvia’s progression through the age-grade program has also been excellent and we are thrilled to have her experience in strength & conditioning and international rugby. Louise’s tour managerial experience and approach will also be a great benefit to the group and I am very much looking forward to working with all three.”

The program has been working in Regional Training Camps (RTC) all preseason. RTCs are not only a huge opportunity for players to connect with national team coaches, but also a window for the program to engage with the community.

Through the recently introduced Be The Impact initiative, communities can support the program by hosting a Regional Training Camp in their area; and in return, receive an national team hosted skills session or meet and greet for players of the local region.

For more information on hosting Regional Training Camps, please contact Emilie Bydwell at ebydwell@usa.rugby.

In addition to hosting RTCs, Be The Impact has also launched a February-specific campaign where all donations to the Women’s Eagles (up to $10,000) will be matched by USAR Board Member and Hall of Famer Phaidra Knight. Funds will be used directly to support operational costs and player fees for April and May high performance camps.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE »
 

PLAYER NAME	POSITION	CLUB	CAPS
Destiny Arena	Hooker	Lindenwood University	Uncapped
Bui Baravilala	Flyhalf / Center	San Diego Surfers	11
Catie Benson	Prop	Life West Gladiatrix	23
Stacey Bridges	Second Row	Beantown Rugby	40
Kaitlyn Broughton	Back 3	Glendale Merlins	5
Ashlee Byrge	Scrumhalf	San Diego Surfers	5
Elizabeth Cairns	Back Row	LIfe West Gladiatrix	11
Gabriella Cantorna	Flyhalf	Glendale Merlins	8
Jenny Kronish	Second Row	Glendale Merlins	Uncapped
Jennine Duncan	Wing	Seattle Saracens	7
Rachel Ehrecke	Back Row	Glendale Merlins	Uncapped
Tess Feury	Fullback	New York Rugby	6
McKenzie Hawkins	Center / Flyhalf	Glendale Merlins	3
Leti Hingano	Fullback	LifeWest Gladiatrix	2
Katana Howard	Fly Half	Twin City Amazons	4
Charli Jacoby	Prop	Chicago North Shore	6
Nick James	Prop	Houston Athletic	12
Rachel Johnson	Back Row	Oregon Rugby Union	7
Kathryn Johnson	Back Row	Twin City Amazons	2
Joanna Kitlinski	Hooker	Glendale Merlins	14
Maya Learned	Prop	Glendale Merlins	2
Sarah Levy	Wing	New York Rugby	2
Shelby Lin	Scrumhalf	Berkeley All Blues	Uncapped
Bulou Mataitoga	Fullback	Berkeley All Blues	3
Teigan McDonald	Back 3 / Center	San Diego Surfers	Uncapped
Olivia Ortiz	Scrumhalf	Davenport University / Chicago North Shore	5
Hope Rogers	Prop	Life West Gladiatrix	29
Kristine Sommer	Second Row	Seattle Saracens	13
Nicole Strasko	Back Row	LIfe West Gladiatrix	7
Amy Talei Bonte	Center	Life West Gladiatrix	6
Hallie Taufoou	Second Row	Richmond Women Rfc	Uncapped
Kathryn Treder	Hooker	Beantown Rugby	2
Alycia Washington	Second Row	New York Rugby	22
Carly Waters	Scrumhalf	Glendale Merlins	4
Kate Zackary	Back Row	San Diego Surfers	15

 

STAFF

 

Emilie Bydwell | Director of Women’s High Performance

Rob Cain | Head Coach

Kate Daley | Assistant Coach - Defense

Neil Harris | Assistant Coach - Set Piece

Richard Ashfield | Assistant Coach - Backs

Jenny Lui | Support Coach

Jamie Burke | Support Coach

Ian Jones | Head of Physical Performance

Sylvia Braaten | Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach

Conor Sweeney | Sports Scientist

Dave Gardner | Head of Performance Analysis

Callum Howells | Performance Analyst

Terrence Cronin | Team Doctor

Bri Arsenault | Head Athletic Trainer

Katherin Henry | Athletic Trainer

Louise Stewart | Team Manager