CHULA VISTA, CA. – The Women’s National Team (15s) will assemble this Monday, July 30 at the Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista, CA to begin preparations for their upcoming November test series. Led by new Head Coach Rob Cain, as his first official assignment with the Women’s Eagles, 62 athletes will spend five days training as the program builds a comprehensive depth chart for competition.

Ranked fifth in the world, the Women’s Eagles will make their official return on Nov. 3 for The Rugby Weekend to face the New Zealand Black Ferns in an exciting triple-header at Soldier Field. The event also features Ireland vs Italy and the Men’s Eagles vs the Maori All Blacks. Following the Black Ferns, the Eagles will travel to Europe for a test match with a nation to be named later, an “A” level game and a final contest with Ireland (Nov. 18) at Energia Park in Dublin. The Rugby Weekend will be streamed LIVE on FloRugby with broadcast info for other matches confirmed in due course.

“These really are exciting times ahead for our Women’s 15s program and I can’t wait to see the players show us what they can do over the duration of the camp,” says Head Coach Rob Cain. “I am excited to meet the players, work alongside them and help them be their best version of themselves. We are going to work hard and have a lot of fun doing it.”

Of the 62 players in this weekend’s camp, 12 were part of the Women’s Eagles fourth place finish at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland; bringing established experience to guide 9 of the athletes participating as apprentices through the Hawk Eye training program. Two athletes come from the USA Women’s Sevens player pool while two will be invited from this weekend’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) All Stars Game.

“We will get a much better picture of the type of players we have, as well as the areas we need to maximize and develop this week,” says Cain. “The players will have clarity on the direction we are all headed together over the coming weeks and months; but more importantly, how we will get there. Every journey starts with a few steps and this signifies our first steps together.”

The Women’s National Team’s high performance training camp will run from July 30 – August 3 at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Site in California. Tickets to see the Women’s Eagles in their official return at The Rugby Weekend are on sale now at therugbyweekend.com. A roster for the full November test series including the confirmation of another test match and “A” level game will be announced in due course.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER | JULY HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING CAMP

Name Club Suiluana A’au Grant Generals Tiana Au’u Hawk Eye Training Program Milla Anderson Scion Sirens Kathryn Augustyn Berkeley All Blues Cassidy Bargell Hawk Eye Training Program Catherine Benson Life West Rugby Amelia Bizer San Diego Surfers Stacey Bridges Dartmouth College Tahlia Brody New York Rugby Kaitlyn Broughton Life University Julia Buescher Kansas City Jazz Sarah Buonopane USA Women’s Sevens Player Pool Nicole Burr Augusta Furies Ashlee Byrge USA Women’s Sevens Player Pool Elizabeth Cairns Life West Rugby Gabriella Cantorna Penn State University Gioanna Cruz New York Rugby Lucy Dawson Philadelphia Rugby Jennine Duncan Washington Athletic Rachel Ehrecke Penn State University Tess Feury Penn State University Megan Foster San Diego Surfers Jazamine Gray Santa Barbara Academy Eti Haungatau Hawk Eye Training Program Mata Hingano Hawk Eye Training Program Mckenzie Hawkins Lindenwood University Emily Henrich Hawk Eye Training Program Kayla Hunkin-Clark Washington Athletic Leah Ingold Central Washington University Nicole James Houston Athletic University Jennifer Johnson Central Washington University Rachel Johnson Oregon Sports Union Lauren Kenyon Life West Rugby Joanna Kitlinski Glendale Merlins Haley Langan Harvard University Etta Mailau Utah Vipers Saskia Morgan Scion Sirens Azniv Nalbandian Penn State University Michel Navarro Central Washington University Sara Parsons San Diego Boogie Boarders MJ Pasioles Hawk Eye Training Program Anna Karen Pedraza Scion Sirens Christiane Pheil Chicago North Shore Katherine Ramage Dartmouth College Jamila Reinhardt San Diego Surfers Hope Rogers USA Women’s Sevens Player Pool Megan Rom Life University Kimberly Rozier Harlequins (ENG) Francesca Sands Dartmouth College Alexandria “Spif” Sedrick Hawk Eye Training Program Asinate (Nate) Serevi Scion Sirens Hayden Short U.S. Coast Guard Academy Kristine Sommer Washington Athletic Nicole Strasko Life West Rugby Adi Finau Tamaivena Seattle Saracens Joycelynn Taufa Lindenwood University Solate Tausinga Hawk Eye Training Program Lauren Thunen Hawk Eye Training Program Alycia Washington New York Rugby Carly Waters Penn State University TBD – WPL Athlete N/A TBD – WPL Athlete N/A

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM STAFF | JULY HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING CAMP

Head Coach | Rob Cain

Event Manager / Set Piece Apprentice | Tiff Faaee

Assistant Coach | Kate Daley

Assistant Coach | Wil Snape

Assistant Coach | Richard Ashfield

Assistant Coach | JD Stephenson

Guest Coach | Jack Barid

Head of Performance Analysis | Dave Gardner

Head of Physical Performance | Ian Jones

Sports Scientist | Bobby Lucas

Head Athletic Trainer | Bri Arsenault

Athletic Trainer | Brit Schenck

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM SCHEDULE | NOVEMBER TEST SERIES

The Rugby Weekend

vs. New Zealand

Sat, Nov. 3 | 12 PM CT

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Purchase Tickets | WATCH LIVE on Flo Rugby

TBA Test Match

TBA “A” Level Match

(Women’s Selects)

vs. Ireland

Sun, Nov. 18 | TBA

Energia Park, Dublin, IRE