Kate Zackary leads Eagles squad to Rugby World Cup

Rob Cain has unveiled his squad of 32 to contest the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month. The team will be captained by Exeter loose forward Kate Zackary, who is one of nine players with previous World Cup experience and among 20 who have played with overseas clubs in the past year.

Others who were at RWC 2017 include props Catie Benson, Nick James, and Hope Rogers, second row Kristine Sommer, back row Jordan Matyas, midfielder Alev Kelter, and fullback Tess Feury. Rogers was also at RWC 2014 alongside winger Meya Bizer.

Uncapped inclusions are Beantown prop Erica Jarrell and Life West hooker Jett Hayward. The latter was an unused replacement against Scotland last month.

Notable absentees include RWC 2017 lock Alycia Washington and versatile Loughborough back Bulou Mataitoga. Both are named in the non-traveling reserves with Life hooker Saher Hamdan and Colorado flanker Rachel Ehrecke. Beantown center Emily Henrich was in the squad for the Pacific Four in June but misses out on the return to New Zealand due to a knee injury.

Kris Thomas, Naya Tapper, Cheta Emba, Nicole Heavirland, and Kayla Canett were all part of the team in 2017 and competed at the RWC Sevens in Cape Town this past weekend. This time only back row Jordan Matyas has switched over directly from the Sevens squad.

Cain’s support staff includes a pair of former Eagles captains in Jamie Burke and Kate Daley, and former England lock Martin Haag. Sylvia Braaten, who played on the 2017 team, is in charge of Strength & Conditioning. Callum Howells is the Lead Analyst, and the Team Manager is Annamarie Farrell.

The Eagles  will compete in Pool B along with Italy, Japan, and Canada. They will open their tournament against the Azzurre on Sunday, October 9 (Saturday, October 8 in USA).

 

PROP
Catie Benson (Sale Sharks, UK)
Charli Jacoby (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Erica Jarrell (Beantown)
Nick James (Sale Sharks, UK)
Maya Learned (Gloucester-Hartpury, UK)
Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs, UK)

HOOKER
Jett Hayward (Life West Gladiatrix)
Joanna Kitlinski (Sale Sharks, UK)
Kathryn Treder (Beantown)

SECOND ROW
Evi Ashenbrucker (San Diego Surfers)
Jenny Kronish (Harlequins, UK)
Kristine Sommer (Seattle RC)
Hallie Taufo’ou (Loughborough Lightning, UK)

BACK ROW
Elizabeth Cairns (Life West Gladiatrix)
Kathryn Johnson (Twin Cities Amazons)
Rachel Johnson (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Jordan Matyas (USA Sevens)
Georgie Perris-Redding (Sale Sharks, UK)
Kate Zackary (capt., Exeter Chiefs, UK)

SCRUMHALF
Bridget Kahele (Beantown)
Olivia Ortiz (Colorado Gray Wolves)
Carly Waters (Sale Sharks, UK)

FLYHALF
Gabby Cantorna (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Megan Foster (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
McKenzie Hawkins (Life West Gladiatrix)

MIDFIELD
Eti Haungatau (Lindenwood Lions)
Katana Howard (Sale Sharks, UK)
Alev Kelter (Saracens, UK)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Meya Bizer (Beantown)
Lotte Clapp (Saracens, UK)
Jennine Detiveaux (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
Tess Feury (Wasps, UK)

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
Saher Hamdan (Life Running Eagles)
Alycia Washington (Sale Sharks, UK)
Rachel Ehrecke (Colorado Gray Wolves)
Bulou Mataitoga (Loughborough Lightning, UK)