Women’s Eagles named for Super Series

Head coach Pete Steinberg has named 26 players to represent the Women’s Eagles in the Super Series, a four-team round robin that kicks off on June 27. The squad is full of new names, with only five players – Katy Augustyn, Sarah Chobot, Hope Rogers, Deven Owsiany, and Kimber Rozier – returning from the team that took part in the 2014 Women’s World Cup in France. Rogers was named to the tournament Dream Team.

In total only 10 of the group have test match experience, as Steinberg looks to build a new squad with an eye towards the 2017 Women’s World Cup in Ireland. Stacey Bridges, Molly Kinsella, Jennifer Lui, Laura Miller, and Sam Pankey are the other capped players.

Among the notable new players is Jordan Gray, a back row or centre for BYU, originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Just a year ago Tiffany Faaee was in the reserve group of the New Zealand national women’s rugby league side, and in 2011 played for Samoa against the Jillaroos of Australia in Apia.

The selections come following the completion of the inaugural National All-Star Competition held at James Madison University from June 1-6. More than 200 athletes and 50 coaches took part in the newly created event, part of the re-designed national player pathway.

Steinberg has been in charge of the Women’s Eagles since 2011, and is contracted to continue in the role through to the 2017 World Cup. He is also the head coach of the Penn State women’s side, though he took a sabbatical from that role this past season following the completion of the 2014 World Cup.

FORWARDS
Catie Benson (Penn State), Sarah Chobot (Glendale Raptors), Hope Rogers (Penn State), Katy Augustyn (Berkeley All Blues), Molly Kinsella (Richmond), Sam Luther (Beantown), Laura Miller (Glendale Raptors), Alycia Washington (Scioto Valley), Stacey Bridges (Twin Cities Amazons), Elizabeth Cairns (Penn State), Tiffany Faaee (NYRC), Jordan Gray (BYU), Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale Raptors), Sam Pankey (DC Furies)

BACKS
Jennifer Lui (Chicago North Shore), Deven Owsiany (San Diego Surfers), Kimber Rozier (DC Furies), Lauren Rhode (DC Furies), Jenn Sever (Life West), Nicole Heavirland (West Point), Jane Paar (USMC), Sara Parsons (UN Reno), Bianca Dalal (Penn State), Cheta Emba (Harvard), Kelsi Stockert (Seattle Saracens), Jessica Wooden (Atlanta Harlequins)

FIXTURES
June 27 – v England, Calgary Rugby Park (16:00 local)
July 1 – v Canada, Red Deer Rugby Club (18:30 local)
July 5 – v New Zealand, Ellerslie Park (16:00 local)