USA name squad for Japan tour ahead of WXV

The USA Women’s Eagles have named a traveling squad of 30 for a two-match tour to Japan this month. As part of their WXV preparations, the team will play tests on August 11 and 17, before returning to North America. Canada will host the WXV beginning in late September.

Four players could make their senior international debuts on the tour, all domestic-based. Life West lock Emerson Allen, Berkeley All Blues flanker Sophie Lamphier, Life West scrumhalf Sophie Pyrz, and USA Sevens outside back Sariah Ibarra will make the trip to Japan. Ibarra is from California but represented New Zealand’s u18 7s size before joining the Eagles setup, while the other three newcomers have all suited up with the Rhinos Academy program.

Regular skipper Kate Zackary and vice-captain Rachel Johnson will both miss the tour with injury. Star prop Hope Rogers is also unavailable. Tess Feury will captain the side in their absence. The Leicester fullback is one of 13 travelers currently signed with English Premiership clubs.

PROP
Catie Benson (Sale Sharks, UK) 43 caps
Charli Jacoby (Exeter Chiefs, UK) 28 caps
Maya Learned (Colorado Gray Wolves) 11 caps
Alivia Leatherman (Life West) 3 caps
Mae Sagapolu (Leicester Tigers, UK) 9 caps

HOOKER
Saher Hamdan (Colorado Gray Wolves) 4 caps
Paige Stathopoulos (Beantown) 8 caps
Kathryn Treder (Loughborough Lightning, UK) 20 caps

SECOND ROW
Emerson Allen (Life West) uncapped
Erica Jarrell (Sale Sharks, UK) 9 caps
Jenny Kronish (Beantown) 15 caps
Hallie Taufo’ou (Loughborough Lightning, UK) 17 caps

BACK ROW
Tahlia Brody (Leicester Tigers, UK) 10 caps
Rachel Ehrecke (Colorado Gray Wolves) 13 caps
Sophie Lamphier (Berkeley All Blues) uncapped
Freda Tafuna (Lindenwood) 8 caps

SCRUMHALF
Olivia Ortiz (Sale Sharks, UK) 20 caps
Sophie Pyrz (Life West) uncapped
Taina Tukuafu (Berkeley All Blues) 9 caps

FLYHALF
Gabby Cantorna (Exeter Chiefs, UK) 25 caps
McKenzie Hawkins (Colorado Gray Wolves) 15 caps

MIDFIELD
Joanne Fa’avesi (Life West) 6 caps
Emily Henrich (Leicester Tigers, UK) 16 caps
Mata Hingano (Life West) 2 caps
Katana Howard (Sale Sharks, UK) 20 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Autumn Czaplicki (Life West) 5 caps
Tess Feury (capt., Leicester Tigers, UK) 26 caps
Summer Harris-Jones (USA Sevens) 3 caps
Sariah Ibarra (USA Sevens) uncapped
Bulou Mataitoga (Loughborough Lightning, UK) 17 caps