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BOULDER, Colo. – The USA Women’s National Rugby Team has officially announced the roster of 26 players and four reserves who are set to assemble in the weeks leading up to the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) in England.

“It is never an easy task to trim down a squad we have been working with for almost four years,” said Women’s National Rugby Team Coach Kathy Flores. “With the 2010 World Cup less than two months away, we are working to prepare for every variable possible and select according to the needs of the team, in regards to the commitment and dedication of each individual and their contribution to the squad.”

Assembling on July 10, the USA squad will hold a residency camp at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine for three weeks before departing for England.

“The U.S. Women will feel right at home in the college’s top-notch residential and athletic facilities,” Women’s High Performance Manager, Alex Williams said. “Bowdoin is home to one of the few women’s varsity rugby programs in the country and it’s a great environment for the intense final preparations prior to the World Cup.”

The residency camp will include a lot of individual and unit skill work, along with strength and conditioning sessions, video analysis, and creating game plans for its upcoming RWC pool matches. Brought into the camp will be additional skill specialists, sports psychologists, nutritionists and select media personnel who will all work with the players and staff in preparation for the team’s biggest event of the quadrennial.

The National Team’s time at Bowdoin College won’t be all work and no play, however. On July 12, the USA Women’s Team will host an Under-19 rugby clinic for new and upcoming Under-19 female players and then on July 25, the Women’s National Team will play the Northeast Rugby Union All-Star Women’s Team in a final Women’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match for the Eagles.

The U.S. will also have one week of preparation and acclimatization once landing in England, prior to the kick-off of the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup features the top 12 teams from around the world. The teams are sorted into three pools and will play pool opponents on three match days through August. The fifth-ranked USA Women’s Team is in Pool B along with second-seeded England, Ireland and Kazakhstan.

The USA will face the 11th-ranked Kazakhstan, first, on Friday, August 20. Four days later, the USA will play the eighth-seed, Ireland side, on August 24 and will finish against England on August 28.

“We don’t have the luxury to look past any team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup,” Flores added. “While we were playing Canada in June, Kazakhstan played close matches with South Africa. Ireland is lining up practice competition in the coming month and I am sure England will be training and lining up practice matches as well. No team is taking anything for granted in this event.”

The U.S. Women’s Rugby World Cup Team includes:
Forwards
Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M)
Jamie Burke (Beantown)
Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues)
Melanie Denham (Beantown)
Farrah Douglas (Keystone)
Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues)
Phaidra Knight (New York)
Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries)
Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union)
Lara Vivolo (New York)
Kittery Wagner (Beantown)
Maurin Wallace (Beantown)
Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)

Backs
Claudia Braymer (Albany)
Emilie Bydwell (Beantown)
Amy Daniels (Beantown)
Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues)
Victoria Folayan (Berkeley All-Blues)
Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota Valkyries)
Ashley Kmiecik (Oregon Sports Union)
Lynelle Kugler (Twin Cities Amazons)
Kim Magrini (Keystone)
Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
Vanesha McGee (New York)
Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)

Reserves
Stephanie Bruce (Berkeley All-Blues)
Kate Daley (Keystone)
Naima Reddick (Berkeley All-Blues)
Hannah Stolba (Minnesota Valkyries)

For more information on the Women’s National Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles. To follow the WNT on the road to the Women’s Rugby World Cup or for the chance to sponsor a day of residency for the U.S. Women’s Rugby Team visit www.weWaNTrugby.com. Also, don’t forget to check out the Women’s Rugby World Cup website at www.rwcwomens.com.

About Bowdoin
Bowdoin is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational residential, undergraduate liberal arts institution founded in 1794. It is located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of 21,000 on the Maine coast. Study at Bowdoin leads to a bachelor of arts degree in one of over 40 departmental and interdisciplinary majors. Bowdoin enrolls approximately 1,750 students from across the country and around the world. For more information, please visit www.bowdoin.edu.

from USA Rugby:

LANGFORD, B.C. – The U.S. Women’s National Rugby Team lost its last game of the Can-Am series on Friday, marking a 0-2 record against its Canadian opponents after the 34-22 defeat at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, BC.

The Canadians looked strong out the gate, scoring a try by fullback Julianne Zussman after just two minutes, but a yellow card in a pivotal position halted Canada’s momentum and brought the USA to life.

Contests between the North American rivals have been notoriously close; the last four matches have been decided by seven points or less, including Monday’s test when Olympian Heather Moyse scored a last-minute to give Canada a 14-8 victory.

Canada’s first three tries were all scored by the backs as the end result of simple offloads after touching several sets of hands. Zussman’s initial try clearly stung the USA who could only muster 12 points in the opening frame.

The Americans rallied after half and the 27th test between these two nations became another arm wrestle.

Canadian scrumhalf Laura Stoughton was given a yellow card for not rolling away at the breakdown, leaving Canada unsure of whom to slot into the central role. Match captain Maria Gallo stepped into the position, more for her leadership abilities than her pass, and the Canadians were able to hold the States scoreless while a player down.

However, Canada exhaled early and USA wing Vanesha McGee crossed the line just as Stoughton returned to the pitch, leveling the score at 22.

The U.S. worked its way down to the Canadian five meter line numerous times, but Canada’s defense held and shifted the match’s momentum yet again. Shortly thereafter, Stoughton found redemption for her absence in the form of a try, scoring in similar fashion to the first three. Replacement flanker Heather Jaques capped off an exceptionally sharp game with Canada’s last try.

While the U.S. would make several more convincing attempts, Canada would hold on to secure their home Can-Am sweep.

“Did we fix some things (from Monday’s game),” U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Kathy Flores asked rhetorically. “Yes, we did. Do we have a lot of things to work on? Yes, we do. The Canadians played very, very well.

“Normally when we get behind we can’t come back, but there was a point where we were able to tie the score after being down, which was actually good for us,” Flores added. “Where I think we lack a little discipline is where the Canadians are very good. When they get scored on they come right back at something and they’re ready for it and I think we tend to sit back a little bit because we just scored. That key moment is when we lose a little bit of our momentum and that’s when the Canada side was able to get right back into it and come back at us.”

This two-game series for the U.S. marks the last matches for the U.S. before travelling to London for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off for the U.S. Women on August 20 against Kazakhstan.

Although the Can-Am series wasn’t necessarily the confidence builder the U.S. had hoped for, it did allow the National Team Coach a closer look at the players she will bring with her to England later this summer.

“There are 30 players in the pool right now,” Flores explained, “and we’ll narrow it down to 26 (for the RWC). I have a good idea of 20, at least, and the remaining six spots will depend on how the person played during this weekend, what we know they can do, all those types of things.”

For more information on the U.S. Women’s Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles or contact Sara Wright at swright@usarugby.org.

Scoring:
Canada 34 (22)
Tries: Julianne Zussman, Brittany Waters, Mandy Marchak, Laura Stoughton, Heather Jaques
Conversions: Schnell (2), Marchak
Penalties: Schnell

USA 22 (10)
Tries: Christine Ringgenberg, Emily Bydwell, Vanesha McGee
Conversions: Ringgenberg (2)
Penalties: Ringgenberg

U.S. Women’s Lineup:

1. Jamie Burke (Beantown)
2. Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues)
3. Lara Vivolo (New York Rugby Club)
4. Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries)
5. Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
6. Melanie Denham (Beantown)
7. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)
8. Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues)
9. Kim Magrini (Keystone)
10. Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)
11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
12. Emilie Bydwell (Beantown)
13. Lynelle Kugler (Twin Cities Amazons)
14. Vanesha Mcgee (New York Rugby Club)
15. Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues) *Captain

16. Farrah Douglas (Keyston)
17. Maurin Wallace (Beantown)
18. Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M)
19. Phaidra Knight (New York Rugby Club)
20. Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota Valkyries)
21. Amy Daniels (Beantown)
22. Ashley Kmiecik (ORSU)

Round 2 of CanAm kicks off today at 5 p.m (PT) and will be Ustreamed by Canada here. Thanks to Canada Rugby and their team for streaming this game for all to watch.

from USA Rugby:

BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Women’s National Team has released its lineup for its second Can-Am match of their two-game series against Canada on June 18.

In the first match of the series, on Monday, the U.S. side was beaten in the final moments when Canada’s Olympic gold medalist Heather Moyse scored to put the Canadians up 14-8 over the Americans.

The USA Women Eagles will no doubt look for retribution tomorrow, when the second match kicks off at 5 p.m. (PT) at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, BC.

“We had a lot of unforced errors in our first match and were too slow on our defensive launch,” Women’s National Team Coach Kathy Flores said. “The Canadians do a good job of running hard into the contact point, so we’ve spent the last few sessions ironing out our communication with the end result being better commitment to ball possession and retention.”

The U.S. has also named a completely different starting lineup compared to that which took the field on Monday. With only five returning starters, this new-look U.S. squad definitely has a lot to prove.

U.S. Women’s Lineup:

1. Jamie Burke (Beantown)
2. Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues)
3. Lara Vivolo (New York Rugby Club)
4. Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries)
5. Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
6. Melanie Denham (Beantown)
7. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)
8. Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues)
9. Kim Magrini (Keystone)
10. Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)
11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
12. Emilie Bydwell (Beantown)
13. Lynelle Kugler (Twin Cities Amazons)
14. Vanesha Mcgee (New York Rugby Club)
15. Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues) *Captain

Reserves
16. Farrah Douglas (Keyston)
17. Maurin Wallace (Beantown)
18. Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M)
19. Phaidra Knight (New York Rugby Club)
20. Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota Valkyries)
21. Amy Daniels (Beantown)
22. Ashley Kmiecik (ORSU)

from Rugby Canada:

A similar but not identical squad has been announced for Canada’s NSWT second match against the USA Eagles on Friday at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, BC.

Friday will be the 27th meeting of these two nations (USA lead 15-11) and since August 2009, it will be the grudge match as the series is tied, 2-2. Beyond the obvious national pride that is on the line, it is also the last chance for the players to make their case for selection for the 2010 World Cup.

The individual pressure played a role in last match’s choppiness, but the game settled by the last 10 and both teams can be expected to roll on from where they left off.

For Canada, it was on an especial high note as they had numerous scoring opportunities, including Heather Moyse’s eventual game-winner. With only minutes remaining, the USA answered back with convincing territory, and several good individual runs landed the Eagles within 10m of Canada’s line. The game would end there though, with Canada purposely kicking the ball out-of-bounds for the whistle.

This match marks a few individual milestones for Canada’s NSWT. Gillian Florence, Canada’s most-capped player in history, will receive her 60th cap on Friday. The gritty legend will likely be selected for the World Cup, making her only the second player in history to go to five World Cups.

Maria Gallo, who plays for Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, will earn her 50th cap against the same side that she earned her first cap. Like Florence, Gallo has had an illustrious rugby career, starting in 1999 when she debuted for her country in Saranac Lake versus the USA. Since then, Gallo has been to two XV’s World Cups (Spain 2002 & Canada 2006) and was captain for Canada at the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai.

The combination of experience, skill and character make Gallo, originally from Argentina, an obvious choice for Friday’s match captain, but are the same reason she’s been on the national scene over 10 years. Her 50th cap will be a feather in the doctor’s cap, as her achievements extend past the touchline; Gallo has a PhD in Exercise Physiology and is an instructor at UBC in the School of Human Kinetics.

50 appearances for any country is an accomplishment, but especially so in North America where travel and financial logistics play a heavy factor in the number of international tests played per year, but Monday’s match had a peculiar disparity. Though the average age for Canada and USA differed only by a year, Canada’s 22-man roster more than doubled USA’s number of caps (413 – 184).

However, those numbers are not the ones that will matter come Friday, as the final match between these two countries before the 2010 World Cup should be another close one.

Canada’s Lineup

1. Tabitha Stavrou
2. Kim Donaldson
3. Corinne Jacobsen
4. Marie-Eve Brindamour-Carignan
5. Megan Gibbs
6. Barbara Mervin
7. Gillian Florence
8. Kelly Russell
9. Laura Stoughton
10. Anna Schnell
11. Brittany Waters
12. Sarah Ulmer
13. Mandy Marchak
14. Maria Gallo
15. Julianne Zussman

from USA Rugby:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The women of the Northeast Rugby Union (NRU) won the Under-23 National All-Star Championship on Sunday at the University of California – Santa Barbara.

In the Tier 1 title game, NRU defeated the Midwest Thunderbirds 25-12. NRU scored within moments of the starting whistle in an attempt to put the Thunderbirds away early. A quick try in reply from the outstanding Thunderbird wing, Tyra McGrady, was not enough to stop the clinical NRU side, whose dangerous backline tormented the Midwest all day.

NRU scrumhalf, Alyssa Baccarella, contributed heavily to her side’s victory and her precise passing game allowed the Northeast to attack the Thunderbird defense effectively and often. For Baccarella’s efforts, she earned the title of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player by National Team selectors.

The Tier 2 final between the Pacific Coast Grizzlies and the USA Under-20s was so closely fought that two overtime periods were necessary to determine a winner. The Grizzlies gave the Eagles a physical game, but the national side squeaked out a win in the closing seconds of overtime as Eagle captain Katie Johnson crossed the line for a try. The game was a promotion match, so the Under-20s will move up to Tier 1 for next year’s competition.

In the Tier 1 consolation match, the West defeated the Mid-Atlantic (MARFU) women 37-18. The West will remain in Tier 1 next year, but MARFU will drop to Tier 2.

The SoCal Griffins took on the South in the Tier 2 consolation match, shutting out the Southern women 16-0.

BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Women’s National Rugby Team officially released its starting lineup set to face Canada in the first of its two Can-Am matches.

The first match kicks off on Monday, June 14 at the Shawnigan Lake School in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. at 4 p.m. (PDT). The second Can-Am Match will be on Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, B.C.

This two-game Can-Am series marks the last two test matches that the U.S. will have before departing to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. The matches will be shown live via U-Stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-rugby

“While we consider ourselves fortunate to have a very strong rivalry with Canada, we must establish ourselves as a strong contender for the World Cup,” said U.S. Women’s Coach Kathy Flores. “We are selecting our final World Cup squad from this venue and competition for a place on the squad is tight so we are looking forward to a better performance than we’ve given in the past.”

In January, the last time the U.S. took on the Canadians, they came away with split results. In the last five matches against their northern rivals, the U.S. has gone 2-3, and although the U.S. won’t meet Canada in their pool play at the RWC, the U.S. Eagles could meet Rugby Canada in the fourth round of matches in September.

The USA Women’s lineup includes:

1. Jamie Burke (Beantown)
2. Kitt Wagner (Beantown)
3. Rachel Reddick (Berkeley All-Blues)
4. Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M)
5. Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries) *Captain
6. Beckett Royce (ORSU)
7. Phaidra Knight (New York Rugby Club)
8. Kate Daley (Keystone)
9. Kimberly Magrini (Keystone)
10. Hannah Stolba (Minnesota Valkyries)
11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
12. Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota Valkyries)
13. Amy Daniels (Beantown)
14. Vanesha Mcgee (New York Rugby Club)
15. Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)
16. Farrah Douglas (Keystone)
17. Maurin Wallace (Beantown)
18. Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
19. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)
20. Stephanie Bruce (Berkeley All-Bles)
21. Lynelle Kugler (Twin Cities Amazons)
22. Ashley Kmiecik (ORSU)

For more information on the Women’s National Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles or contact Swright@usarugby.org.

Canada Roster

1. Tabitha Stavrou 2. Lesley McKenzie 3. Marlene Donaldson 4. Megan Gibbs 5. Marie-Eve Brindamour-Carignan 6. Barbara Mervin 7. Gillian Florence 8. Kelly Russell 9. Laura Stoughton 10. Anna Schnell 11. Maria Gallo – CAPTAIN 12. Sarah Ulmer 13. Mandy Marchak 14. Brittany Waters 15. Ashley Patzer

Replacements: 16. Corinne Jacobsen 17. Kim Donaldson 18. Jennifer Kish 19. Heather Jaques 20. Julia Sugawara 21. Brooke Hilditch 22. Heather Moyse

BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Women’s National Rugby Team officially released its starting lineup set to face Canada in the first of its two Can-Am matches.

The first match kicks off on Monday, June 14 at the Shawnigan Lake School in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. at 4 p.m. (PDT). The second Can-Am Match will be on Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, B.C.

This two-game Can-Am series marks the last two test matches that the U.S. will have before departing to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. The matches will be shown live via U-Stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-rugby

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