CHULA VISTA, CA. – The USA Women’s National Team XVs are set to begin their final test series of the year against rival Canada this Wednesday, November 20, KO 2 PM PT on florugby.com. Admission is open for all fans at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.

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MATCH-DAY 23

Up to five players could earn their first cap on Wednesday after a productive first few days in camp saw several Women’s Premier League standouts get the nod.

Life West’s Frieda Fetuu and Leti Hingano will start at lock and fullback, respectively, while Twin City Amazons’ Kathryn Johnson will play No. 8. Beantown Rugby’s Katherine Treder and 2019 WPL Champion Maya Learned could also debut as reserves.

Joining the new caps are scrumhalf Carly Waters and wing Kaitlyn Broughton who each start in their first test match since the Autumn Internationals 2018. Waters and Broughton are both also part of the 2019 WPL Champion Glendale Merlins.

After a year of impressive performances and leadership both on and off the field, Center Emily Henrich will help lead the team as Vice Captain alongside Captain Kate Zackary.

The match-day 23 owns 143 cumulative test caps.

STARTERS

PLAYER NAME POSITION CLUB CAPS 1. Catherine Benson Prop Life West Gladiatrix 21 2. Joanna Kitlinski Hooker Glendale Merlins 12 3. Charli Jacoby Prop Chicago North Shore 4 4. Kristine Sommer Lock Seattle Saracens 11 5. Frieda Fetuu Lock Life West Gladiatrix uncapped 6. Rachel Johnson Flanker Oregon Sports Union 5 7. Katherine Zackary (C) Flanker San Diego Surfers 13 8. Kathryn Johnson No. 8 Twin City Amazons uncapped 9. Carly Waters Scrumhalf Glendale Merlins 2 10. Gabriella Cantorna Flyhalf Glendale Merlins 6 11. Jennine Duncan Wing Seattle Saracens 5 12. Amy Naber-Bonte Center Life West Gladiatrix 4 13. Emily Henrich (VC) Center USA Sevens 6 14. Kaitlyn Broughton Wing Glendale Merlins 3 15. Leti Hingano Fullback Life West Gladiatrix uncapped

RESERVES

PLAYER NAME POSITION CLUB CAPS 16. Kathryn Treder Reserve Beantown Rugby uncapped 17. Nick James Reserve Houston Athletic 10 18. Maya Learned Reserve Glendale Merlins uncapped 19. Nicole Strasko Reserve Life West Gladiatrix 5 20. Alycia Washington Reserve New York Rugby 20 21. Olivia Ortiz Reserve Davenport University & Chicago North Shore 4 22. Katana Howard Reserve Twin City Amazons 3 23. Bui Baravilala Reserve San Diego Surfers 9

STAFF

Director of Women’s High Performance | Emilie Bydwell

Head Coach | Rob Cain

Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke

Assistant Coach | Kate Daley

Assistant Coach Rich Ashfield

Coach/Team Manager | Jenny Lui

Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | Ian Jones

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | Conor Sweeney

Head Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner

Assistant Performance Analyst | Callum Howells

Team Doctor | Terrence Cronin

Athletic Trainer | Bri Arsenault

Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry

SUPER SERIES RECAP

The Women’s Eagles last took the pitch for their final match of Super Series 2019 where they suffered a heartbreaking 14-53 loss to then-No. 4 France.

France won the edge by mastering their own kicking game and capitalizing on simple mistakes by the United States. While Les Blues held a strong margin in their favor through the contest, the Eagles showed life in their attacking game with two late tries.

Held over two weeks, Super Series brought together the world’s top five women’s rugby teams for the first time since 2016. The Eagles fell to No. 2 England 5-38 and No. 1 New Zealand 0-33, before a momentous 20-18 comeback victory over then-No. 3 Canada.

Over the course of the tournament, the group made many promising strides. Where last November they fell to England by a 52 point margin and also to New Zealand by a 61 point margin, the program cut both those deficits significantly.

VIEW SUPER SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

THIS MATCHUP | United States vs Canada

Wednesday’s game will be the first of two in the November Can-Am Series with both matches held at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in San Diego.

A winner for the series will be determined on aggregate score with the final match set for Sunday, November 24. Canada are currently ranked No. 4 in the world with the USA at No. 5.

The opening game stands as a rematch from July where the Eagles came back from a 12 point deficit to ignite their offense, win by two points and tie their overall record with the Canadians.

Canada will emerge much more prepared this time around, however, as the increase in time spent together over the year will hugely beneficial to the U.S. side.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH ROB CAIN

“It’s always great to see people club form get rewarded – a big part of this group’s continued development will be the inner competition this brings. It has been great to welcome Leti, Frieda, Maya, Kathryn T and Katherine J into the squad and we are all excited for them to make their debuts in another exciting challenge that Canada will pose for us.

“It’s a lot of fun having the band back together, so to speak. This adventure we are all on together has been and still will be full of so many learning opportunities. The players’ work ethic has been — as it always is — first class and we are excited for another new group to experience international rugby, creating some special memories along the way.

“Canada have consistently shown how dominant and dangerous they can be both at the set piece and through their ability to put the ball into space through their run-kick-pass options. The more we can build our depth and the more we can continuously challenge ourselves on and off the pitch, the closer we get to where we want to be in 2021.”

WHERE TO WATCH

Both matches in the November Can-Am Series may be streamed LIVE on florugby.com in the United States and Canada. Score updates will be posted on USA Rugby’s Twitter channels as well as a match report published within 90 minutes of full time.

OPEN ADMISSION

Admission is open for the full Can-Am Series taking place at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in San Diego.

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