Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The 2016 Women’s Rugby Super Series is upon us, with four teams set to do battle in Round 1 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday. Canada will get things started as they face off against England in another rematch of the 2014 World Cup final, followed by 2016 Six Nations Champions France and hosts USA. The tournament is a major development opportunity for each side as they build towards the 2017 World Cup in Ireland.
All matches will be streamed live and free on The Rugby Channel.
CANADA vs ENGLAND
14:00 PT, 15:00 MT, 17:00 ET
The Canadians have suffered an untimely and unusual loss as head coach François Ratier has had to return home to deal with a personal matter on the eve of the tourney. Shaun Allen steps in as caretaker for the remainder of the Super Series, with Ratier keeping tabs on progress remotely.
An experienced side will run out with no less than 12 members of the World Cup side in the match day roster. Laura Russell captains from the second row, with an impressive back row unit that features Barb Mervin, Latoya Blackwood, and Jacey Murphy. Dynamic midfielder Andrea Burk headlines a back division that includes one new cap in Quebec winger Frédérique Rajotte.
Only two front row reserves are named on the bench, with Russell also providing cover, and there are five players ready to make their international debuts if called upon. Demi Stamatakis, Fabiola Forteza, Katie Svoboda, Brianna Miller, and Anaïs Holly are all new to senior test rugby.
England are missing World Cup star Emily Scarratt but otherwise field a hugely experienced team led by powerful no8 Sarah Hunter. Rochelle Clark is set to continue her record caps total with her 111th match in an England jersey, and second row Tamara Taylor will win her 92nd.
Meanwhile her lock partner Courtney Gill makes only her second test appearance, and Lichfield centre Millie Wood makes her senior international debut. Laura Keates will win her 50th cap should she take the field as a substitute.
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen 2 Mary-Jane Kirby 3 DaLeaka Menin 4 Laura Russell (capt.) 5 Kayla Mack 6 Barbara Mervin 7 Latoya Blackwood 8 Jacey Murphy 9 Chelsea Guthrie 10 Emily Belchos 11 Frédérique Rajotte 12 Andrea Burk 13 Alex Tessier 14 Brittany Waters 15 Julianne Zussman
16 Demi Stamatakis 17 Olivia DeMerchant 18 Tyson Beukeboom 19 Fabiola Forteza 20 Katie Svoboda 21 Brianna Miller 22 Anaïs Holly 23 Katie McNally
ENGLAND
1 Rochelle Clark 2 Amy Cokayne 3 Vickii Cornborough 4 Courtney Gill 5 Tamara Taylor 6 Harriet Millar-Mills 7 Izzy Noel-Smith 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.) 9 LaToya Mason 10 Amber Reed 11 Lotte Clapp 12 Ceri Large 13 Millie Wood 14 Lydia Thompson 15 Katie Mason
16 Lark Davies 17 Heather Kerr 18 Laura Keates 19 Alex Matthews 20 Poppy Leitch 21 Bianca Blackburn 22 Lauren Cattell 23 Fiona Pocock
Referee: Leah Berard (USAR)
FRANCE vs USA
16:00 PT, 17:00 MT, 19:00 ET
France are the defending Six Nations Champions and arrive with the majority of their first choice team that did the hard work. Captain and hooker Gaelle Mignot is joined by a strong supporting cast that includes powerhouse second row Audrey Forlani, world class loose forward Safi N’Diaye, and dynamic centre Lucille Godiveau. The starting lineup has yet to be named at time of writing.
EDIT: France team has now been added below.
Pete Steinberg will field close to his strongest team to face the challenge. Star front rowers Katy Augustyn and Hope Rogers are backed by captain Stacey Bridges in a very solid tight five unit. Joanna Kitlinski wins a recall on the flank and key ball carrier Jordan Gray starts at no8.
World Cup halfbacks Deven Owsiany and Kimber Rozier will look to an experienced midfield in Sylvia Braaten and Jane Paar and the electric Jessica Wooden an exciting attacking option from fullback.
FRANCE
1 Lise Arricastre 2 Gaëlle Mignot (capt.) 3 Julie Duval 4 Manon André 5 Céline Ferer 6 Pauline Soulard 7 Gaëlle Hermet 8 Romane Ménager 9 Yanna Rivoalen 10 Audrey Abadie 11 Julie Billes 12 Lucille Godiveau 13 Carla Neissen 14 Camille Cabalou 15 Laura Delas
16 Manon Bigot 17 Laure Clermidy 18 Patricia Carricaburu 19 Emilie Mathieu 20 Safi N’Diaye 21 Pauline Bourdon 22 Camille Boudaud 23 Caroline Boujard
USA
1 Tiffany Faaee 2 Katy Augustyn 3 Hope Rogers 4 Stacey Bridges (capt.) 5 Alycia Washington 6 Christiane Pheil 7 Joanna Kitlinski 8 Jordan Gray 9 Deven Owsiany 10 Kimber Rozier 11 Cheta Emba 12 Sylvia Braaten 13 Jane Paar 14 Saskia Morgan 15 Jessica Wooden
16 Sam Pankey 17 Catie Benson 18 Jamila Reinhardt 19 Molly Kinsella 20 Elizabeth Cairns 21 Jennifer Lui 22 Megan Foster 23 Naya Tapper
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
