USA names 2020 Women’s Eagles training squad

USA Rugby has named a group of 35 players in the 2020 Women’s Eagles XVs High Performance group. The roster combines with the centralized World Sevens program at Chula Vista to form the senior player pool for Head Coach Rob Cain to choose from heading towards Rugby World Cup 2021.

Included are nine members of the 2017 World Cup squad with another eight currently playing on the sevens circuit. Confirming their retirement last month were flanker Christiane Pheil and versatile back Kimber Rozier, while former Eagles midfielder Sylvia Braaten has joined the staff as Strength & Conditioning Coach.

There are six uncapped players named including Lindenwood hooker Destiny Arena, second rows Jenny Kronish and Hallie Taufo’ou, loose forward Rachel Ehrecke, scrumhalf Shelby Lin, and utility back Teigan MacDonald. Kronish and Ehrecke make it eight Glendale Merlins selected, the most of any club.

FORWARDS
Catie Benson (Life West), Charli Jacoby (Chicago North Shore), Nick James (HARC), Maya Learned (Glendale Merlins), Hope Rogers (Life West), Destiny Arena (Lindenwood), Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale Merlins), Kathryn Treder (Beantown), Stacey Bridges (Beantown), Jenny Kronish (Glendale Merlins), Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens), Hallie Taufo’ou (Richmond), Alycia Washington (New York RC), Bitsy Cairns (Life West), Rachel Ehrecke (Glendale Merlins), Rachel Johnson (ORSU), Katie Johnson (Twin City), Nicole Strasko (Life West), Kate Zackary (San Diego Surfers)

BACKS
Ashlee Byrge (San Diego Surfers), Shelby Lin (Berkeley All Blues), Olivia Ortiz (Davenport), Carly Waters (Glendale Merlins), Bui Baravilala (San Diego Surfers), Gabby Cantorna (Glendale Merlins), Katana Howard (Twin City), McKenzie Hawkins (Glendale Merlins), Teigan MacDonald (San Diego Surfers), Amy Talei-Bonte (Life West), Kaitlyn Broughton (Glendale Merlins), Jennine Duncan (Seattle Saracens), Tess Feury (New York RC), Leti Hingano (Life West), Bulou Mataitoga (Berkeley All Blues)