Wooden plays for Barbarians against British Army

US Eagles fullback Jess Wooden has become the first player from her nation to represent the women’s Barbarians. The 29-year-old started against the British Army in just the second ever women’s fixture for the invitational club side, scoring a try in the first half as the Barbarians completed a 37-0 win on a snowy pitch at Aldershot.

Among the numerous international stars Wooden shared the pitch were Wales trio Rachel Taylor, Catrin Edwards, and Elen Evans; Ireland regulars Marie Louise Reilly, Sophie Spence, and Gillian Bourke; England prop Claire Cripps test centurion Amy Garnett.

Wooden, who plays her club rugby for Harlequins in London, is not the first Americas player to earn selection to the side. That honor is shared by Canadian duo Kelly Russell and Amanda Thornborough who played in the inaugural women’s Barbarians match against Munster in November.

BARBARIANS
1 Claire Cripps (Wasps & England), 2 Katharine Evans (Saracens), 3 Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North & Wales), 4 Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere & Ireland), 5 Nora Baltruweit (Wasps & Germany), 6 Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere & Ireland), 7 Isabel Rico Vazquez (Pozuelo & Spain), 8 Rachel Taylor (capt., Caernarfon & Wales), 9 Tina Veale (Wasps & England), 10 Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere & Ireland), 11 Elen Evans (Caernarfon & Wales), 12 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park & England), 13 Kayla McAlister (Galwegians & New Zealand 7s), 14 Sydney Gregson (Bristol & England), 15 Jess Wooden (Harlequins & USA)

Replacements: 16 Tracey Balmer (Worcester & Scotland), 17 Rosemarie Jermine (Lichfield & England), 18 Amy Garnett (Saracens & England), 19 Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians & Ireland), 20 Sian Moore (Worcester & Wales), 21 Vicki Jackson (Wasps & England), 22 Abi Chamberlain (Richmond & England)