Kate Zackary and Hope Rogers have been named in the official Premier 15s Team of the Season. The USA Eagles duo were rewarded for standout campaigns with Exeter Chiefs, who finished as runners-up this season after falling short against Gloucester-Hartpury in Saturday’s Final.
Zackary has remarkably been selected at outside center, despite playing all of her international rugby as a loose forward. The 33-year-old has played in the back row, midfield, and even on the wing for Exeter this year. She was selected to last year’s Team of the Season as a No8.
Rogers is a repeat selection at loosehead prop, earning the same honors last year. A World Class ball carrier and scrummager, the 30-year-old has been starting ahead of Italy international Silvia Turani at Exeter. It was Turani, ironically, who got the nod ahead of Rogers in Rugby World Magazine’s World Cup Dream Team last year.
PREMIER 15s TEAM OF THE SEASON
1 Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs), 2 Lark Davies (Bristol Bears), 3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), 4 Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury), 5 Poppy Leitch (Exeter Chiefs), 6 Trudy Cowan (DMP Sharks), 7 Marlie Packer (Saracens), 8 Poppy Cleall (Saracens), 9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), 10 Holly Aitchison (Saracens), 11 Claudia MacDonald, 12 Bella McKenzie (Harlequins), 13 Kate Zackary (Exeter Chiefs), 14 Ellie Eugman (Gloucester-Hartpury), 15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury)