United States women's national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The United States women's national rugby union team represents the United States
in women's rugby union
. Officially formed in 1987, the Women's National Team (known as the Eagles) has been an international powerhouse since its inception. The Eagles won the first official Women's Rugby World Cup
in 1991, and finished second in the two following World Cups (1994, 1998). The team finished sixth in the 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup
. The Eagles have set the standard for international competition, leading an ensuing wave of women's rugby growth and game development worldwide.
The team is currently coached by former Eagle Kathy Flores
. Flores took over the team in January, 2003. Flores played on the 1991 and 1994 World Cup Squads, playing #8 and scrumhalf. In addition to coaching the Eagles, Flores is the coach of the 11 time national championship women's club team, the Berkeley All Blues.
The History of women’s rugby in the United States can be traced back to three teams that existed in 1972 – The Colorado State University Hookers at Fort Collins; the University of Colorado, at Boulder; and the University of Illinois, at Champaign. During the mid 1970’s women’s teams began to spring up on college campuses across the United States. As those players graduated they went on to set up teams near cities and urban centers. At that time there was only one division for all women’s rugby. In 1975 United States Rugby Football Union was formed and contained four territories. At this time the women had their own Board of Directors and followed in parallel USARFU with four territories (East, Midwest, West and Pacific). In 1978 the first Women’s National Championships was held. The Chicago Women’s Rugby Club in Chicago, Illinois hosted this event. The winner of that championship was Portland, Maine.
In 1985 the first semblance of a national team was formed. An ‘invitation-only’ team was put together and made up of, arguably, the top women playing the game at the time. The team was named WIVERN and toured throughout England and France. The team finished the tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to be selected to the 1991 World Cup Team.
In 1987 the USA Women’s National Team was officially born with their first match against the Canadian Women’s National Team. Although the women were not permitted to wear the Eagle logo this match was sanctioned by Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. USA and Canada began holding an annual match, which became known as the CanAm series. For ten years the Women Eagles went undefeated in this test series.
In 1990 the Women’s National Team, competing under the name ‘USAPresidents 15’, traveled to New Zealand to compete in the historic Women’s World Rugby Festival. The WNT posted a record of 3-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand. In 1991 the first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales. Coached by Beantown’s Kevin O’Brian, a Welshman himself, and Minnesota’s Chris Leach, a South African the stage was set for the US Woman to bring home the Cup. Defeating New Zealand in semi-final play the USA Women advanced to the finals where they defeated England.
Also in 1991 the first woman was elected to serve on the USARFU Board of Directors. Jamie Jordan was elected Treasurer for the BOD.
In 1996 the first assembly of a National Women’s 7’s team was formed. Emil Signas held tryouts to pick a team to compete in the first Women’s International 7’s tournament to be held during the Hong Kong 7’s event. The team competed under the name ‘Atlantis’, the prestigious National 7’s program created by Emil, and finished their tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to compete for the USA Women’s 7’s Team in the Hong Kong 7’s Women’s Division.
In 1997 The U23 Women’s National Team was formed. USA Women’s National Team Head Coach Frank Bouvert appointed Penn State Coach Peter Steinburg to be Head Coach for the U23 Women’s National Team program. At a very emotional event in the CanAm Series the US Women’s National Team celebrated their 10-year anniversary by cheering on the Women’s U23 National Team in their first test against Canada.
Today Women’s Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in both the United States, with teams competing in six divisions domestically, and across the World, where the US Women’s National Team Program fields five representative teams; U19, U23, 7’s, USA ‘A’, and the Women Eagles. It is important that we remember and recognize the women and men that have paved the way for the growth of US Women’s Rugby.
.
in August/September 2006 in Edmonton
, Canada, winning four matches and losing one.
Pool Play:
8/31 - US vs England: loss, 0-18
9/4 - US vs Ireland: win, 24-11
9/8 - US vs. Australia: win, 10-6
Knockout match: 9/12 - US vs. Australia: win, 29-12
5th place match: 9/17 - US vs. Scotland: win, 24-0
Three players from the US squad were named to the tournament's All Star XV:
lock: Jen Crouse
flanker: Phaidra Knight
wing: Ellie Karvoski
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in women's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. Officially formed in 1987, the Women's National Team (known as the Eagles) has been an international powerhouse since its inception. The Eagles won the first official Women's Rugby World Cup
Women's Rugby World Cup
The Women's Rugby World Cup is the premier international competition in rugby union for women. The tournament is organised by the sport's governing body the International Rugby Board...
in 1991, and finished second in the two following World Cups (1994, 1998). The team finished sixth in the 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup
2002 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup was the second World Cup fully sanctioned by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board . The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain...
. The Eagles have set the standard for international competition, leading an ensuing wave of women's rugby growth and game development worldwide.
The team is currently coached by former Eagle Kathy Flores
Kathy Flores
Kathy Flores is a former rugby union player from the United States and was the Head Coach of the U.S. Women's National Team until Jan. 2011 and currently Head Coach of the , the and the Berkeley All Blues. She has played rugby from 1978 to 1998 for , the and U.S. Women's National Team...
. Flores took over the team in January, 2003. Flores played on the 1991 and 1994 World Cup Squads, playing #8 and scrumhalf. In addition to coaching the Eagles, Flores is the coach of the 11 time national championship women's club team, the Berkeley All Blues.
History
(Source: US Women's Rugby Foundation)The History of women’s rugby in the United States can be traced back to three teams that existed in 1972 – The Colorado State University Hookers at Fort Collins; the University of Colorado, at Boulder; and the University of Illinois, at Champaign. During the mid 1970’s women’s teams began to spring up on college campuses across the United States. As those players graduated they went on to set up teams near cities and urban centers. At that time there was only one division for all women’s rugby. In 1975 United States Rugby Football Union was formed and contained four territories. At this time the women had their own Board of Directors and followed in parallel USARFU with four territories (East, Midwest, West and Pacific). In 1978 the first Women’s National Championships was held. The Chicago Women’s Rugby Club in Chicago, Illinois hosted this event. The winner of that championship was Portland, Maine.
In 1985 the first semblance of a national team was formed. An ‘invitation-only’ team was put together and made up of, arguably, the top women playing the game at the time. The team was named WIVERN and toured throughout England and France. The team finished the tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to be selected to the 1991 World Cup Team.
In 1987 the USA Women’s National Team was officially born with their first match against the Canadian Women’s National Team. Although the women were not permitted to wear the Eagle logo this match was sanctioned by Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. USA and Canada began holding an annual match, which became known as the CanAm series. For ten years the Women Eagles went undefeated in this test series.
In 1990 the Women’s National Team, competing under the name ‘USAPresidents 15’, traveled to New Zealand to compete in the historic Women’s World Rugby Festival. The WNT posted a record of 3-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand. In 1991 the first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales. Coached by Beantown’s Kevin O’Brian, a Welshman himself, and Minnesota’s Chris Leach, a South African the stage was set for the US Woman to bring home the Cup. Defeating New Zealand in semi-final play the USA Women advanced to the finals where they defeated England.
Also in 1991 the first woman was elected to serve on the USARFU Board of Directors. Jamie Jordan was elected Treasurer for the BOD.
In 1996 the first assembly of a National Women’s 7’s team was formed. Emil Signas held tryouts to pick a team to compete in the first Women’s International 7’s tournament to be held during the Hong Kong 7’s event. The team competed under the name ‘Atlantis’, the prestigious National 7’s program created by Emil, and finished their tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to compete for the USA Women’s 7’s Team in the Hong Kong 7’s Women’s Division.
In 1997 The U23 Women’s National Team was formed. USA Women’s National Team Head Coach Frank Bouvert appointed Penn State Coach Peter Steinburg to be Head Coach for the U23 Women’s National Team program. At a very emotional event in the CanAm Series the US Women’s National Team celebrated their 10-year anniversary by cheering on the Women’s U23 National Team in their first test against Canada.
Today Women’s Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in both the United States, with teams competing in six divisions domestically, and across the World, where the US Women’s National Team Program fields five representative teams; U19, U23, 7’s, USA ‘A’, and the Women Eagles. It is important that we remember and recognize the women and men that have paved the way for the growth of US Women’s Rugby.
Squad
Squad for 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup2010 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup was the sixth edition of the Women's Rugby World Cup and was being held in England. The International Rugby Board Executive Committee selected the host union following a recommendation from the Rugby World Cup Limited board after considering bids from the Rugby...
.
Forwards
|
Backs
|
Results summary
(Full internationals only)| Opponent | First game | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1987 | 29 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 55.17% | |
| 1991 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8.33% | |
| 1996 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50.00% | |
| 1994 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80.00% | |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1990 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1990 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 14.29% | |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1998 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80.00% | |
| 2009 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1990 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 1994 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Summary 1987- | 82 | 47 | 1 | 34 | 57.93% |
Results
See Women's international rugby for information about the status of international games and match numberingFull internationals
Other matches
2006 Women's World Cup
The Women's National Team finished in fifth place at the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup2006 Women's Rugby World Cup
The 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The tournament began on 31 August and ended on 17 September 2006. The 2006 tournament was the third World Cup approved by the IRB, the previous two being held 2002 in Spain and in the Netherlands, in 1998...
in August/September 2006 in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada, winning four matches and losing one.
Pool Play:
8/31 - US vs England: loss, 0-18
9/4 - US vs Ireland: win, 24-11
9/8 - US vs. Australia: win, 10-6
Knockout match: 9/12 - US vs. Australia: win, 29-12
5th place match: 9/17 - US vs. Scotland: win, 24-0
Three players from the US squad were named to the tournament's All Star XV:
lock: Jen Crouse
flanker: Phaidra Knight
wing: Ellie Karvoski
See also
- United States at the team sports international competitionsUnited States at the team sports international competitionsThe United States at the team sports international competitions has achieved 35 victories at the Olympic Games and 29 World Championship, in addition to several successes in continental competitions. For team sports are the disciplines of the Olympic program...
- Women's international rugby - the most complete listing of all women's international results since 1982