Kate Zackary will captain the USA Ladies’s Eagles on the Rugby World Cup for the second time, with USA Rugby unveiling the complete 32-player squad as a part of a particular live-streamed occasion from Washington D.C.
Zackary took up the captaincy in 2018 earlier than main the workforce on the postponed Rugby World Cup in New Zealand three years in the past. This would be the skipper’s third look on the showpiece occasion, having additionally gone to the 2017 version in Eire.
After taking house an award from the ESPYS from Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, social media star Ilona Maher joined the squad within the capital for the squad announcement. Maher delivered a sensational speech, elevating consciousness of “the most important occasion in girls’s rugby.”
Maher is one among 14 backs included within the squad, and 18 forwards have additionally been named. Greater than 300,000 tickets have already been offered for the World Cup, which is greater than double the final event in New Zealand, making this a must-see occasion that begins subsequent month.
“This Rugby World Cup isn’t nearly us — it’s about displaying the following era what’s doable. We would like youngsters throughout the U.S. to see this workforce and suppose, ‘That could possibly be me.’ Rugby in America is rising, and we’re right here to kick that door extensive open,” Zackary stated.
“This squad is pushed and able to rewrite our story. We now have the chance to play the game we love on the highest degree — and we don’t take that without any consideration – and are relentless in it’s pursuits. We’re right here to raise one another and push past each restrict, collectively.”
After a seventh-place end on the final World Cup, the USA Eagles appear decided to enhance at this yr’s version in England. The USA have been drawn in a tricky pool together with Samoa, Australia, and event hosts England.
The USA had an opportunity to check themselves towards one among their upcoming World Cup rivals in Might, taking up Australia at Canberra’s GIO Stadium. Charlotte Caslick was among the many standouts for the Wallaroos, who received 27-19 on a chilly night time within the capital.
Canada and New Zealand additionally beat the Individuals throughout the Pacific 4 Collection, however there have been real indicators of promise from the Eagles throughout that competitors. They’ll tackle Canada in a single final preparatory match on August 1 earlier than the World Cup will get underway.
“We now have a squad filled with robust, highly effective girls who’ve tales of sacrifice and dedication to the sport of rugby. We’re excited to show all of these particular person tales into workforce success,” coach Sione Fukofuka defined in a press release.
“We’ll rejoice Hope Rogers in her fourth Rugby World Cup who joins an esteemed variety of gamers to play in 4 tournaments. It’s a testomony to her work ethic and dedication to being the perfect Unfastened head on the planet, that she has managed to not solely play in 4 Rugby World Cups, but additionally to face out for the Eagles throughout the previous 12 years.
“This USA Ladies’s Eagles squad is a mix of gamers with a number of Rugby World Cup’s expertise and thrilling gamers about to play of their first World Cup. We now have a powerful emphasis on our work price, physicality and the flexibility to compete in all features of the sport, and we now have deep perception in our potential as a workforce.
“As a workforce, we’re enthusiastic about the potential for taking part in to our potential and unlocking the model of rugby that we really feel we’re capable of play. We wish to change the sport within the US, which incorporates placing on performances that spotlight the strengths of the US and permit our gamers to go on the market and specific themselves by being direct, creating alternatives and changing these into factors.
“The Rugby World Cup is a platform that we hope will assist put rugby on the forefront of the Ladies’s Sporting panorama within the US. Within the lead as much as the 2033 World Cup within the US, we wish younger ladies watching the sport changers on the sector within the US jersey and get excited to in the future be what they will see.”
USA Ladies’s Eagles squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup
Props
Hope Rogers – Exeter Chiefs – 4th Rugby World Cup
Maya Discovered – Denver Onyx – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Charli Jacoby – Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Keia Mae Sagapolu – Leicester Tigers / ACT Brumbies – 1st Rugby World Cup
Catie Benson – Sale Sharks / Boston Banshees – third Rugby World Cup
Alivia Leatherman – Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini – 1st Rugby World Cup
Hookers
Kathryn Treder – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Space Breakers – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Paige Stathopoulos – Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees – 1st Rugby World Cup
Hope Cooper – Bay Space Breakers – 1st Rugby World Cup
Locks
Hallie Taufoou – Loughborough Lightning / Denver Onyx – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Erica Jarrell-Searcy – Sale Sharks – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Rachel Ehrecke – Denver Onyx – 1st Rugby World Cup
Emerson Allen – Twin Cities Gemini – 1st Rugby World Cup
Backrow
Tahlia Brody – Leicester Tigers / Denver Onyx – 1st Rugby World Cup
Rachel Johnson – Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Freda Tafuna – Lindenwood College – 1st Rugby World Cup
Kate Zackary – Ealing Trailfinders – third Rugby World Cup
Georgie Perris-Redding – Sale Sharks – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Scrumhalves
Olivia Ortiz – Sale Sharks – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Cassidy Bargell – Boston Banshees – 1st Rugby World Cup
Flyhalves
McKenzie Hawkins – Denver Onyx – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Kristin Bitter – Denver Onyx – 1st Rugby World Cup
Facilities
Alev Kelter – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Space Breakers – third Rugby World Cup
Emily Henrich – Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees – 1st Rugby World Cup
Ilona Maher – Bristol Bears / USA Sevens – 1st Rugby World Cup
Nana Fa’avesi – Denver Onyx – 1st Rugby World Cup
Gabby Cantorna – Exeter Chiefs – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Wings/Fullbacks
Erica Coulibaly – Denver Onyx – 1st Rugby World Cup
Cheta Emba – Boston Banshees – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Bulou Mataitoga – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Space Breakers – 2nd Rugby World Cup
Sariah Ibarra – USA Sevens – 1st Rugby World Cup
Lotte Sharp – Saracens – 2nd Rugby World Cup
USA Ladies’s Eagles RWC 2025 Coaches & Employees
Head Coach, Assault + Backs: Sione Fukofuka
Assistant Coach, Protection: Sarah Chobot
Assistant Coach, Forwards + Assault: Mel Bosmam
Head of Athletic Efficiency: Charles Dudley
Assistant S&C: Ashley Morataya
Analyst: Callum Howells
Lead Physiotherapist: Alice Mae
Athletic Coach: Sam Malette
Efficiency Psychologist: Scott Goldman
Staff Supervisor: Alana Gattinger
Staff Companies: Aiyana Gilliard
Normal Supervisor, Excessive Efficiency: Tamara Sheppard
Media Supervisor: Jenni Burke
USA Ladies’s Eagles RWC 2025 Match Schedule
USA vs England
August 22 | 2:30 pm ET | Stadium of Mild, Sunderland
USA vs Australia
August 30 | 2:30 pm ET | York Neighborhood Stadium, York
USA vs Samoa
September 6 | 8:30 am ET | York Neighborhood Stadium, York
Quarterfinals start September 13
