Chiefs trio start for USA against Spain

By Mark Stevens
24/3/23

Kate Zackary will skipper the USA Eagles this Saturday as they kick-off their preparations for this season’s World Rugby Pacific Four Series with a friendly against Spain in Madrid.

The experienced No.8 is one of three Exeter Chiefs players who have been named in Rich Ashfield’s match-day squad.

Zackary lines-up in a starting line-up that includes club-mates Hope Rogers and Gabby Cantorna as the Eagles use this fixture to warm-up for their clash with Canada on April 1.

The USA and Spain have not met on the Women’s 15s pitch since the Rugby World Cup 2017 and the Eagles have won all three of their matchups since 1998.Spain, however, are coming off a recent assembly in February and two dominant wins over Sweden and Netherlands, proving their ability to put points on the board.

Interim head coach Ashfield said: “This is the start of a new World Cup cycle and the aim is to build a strong foundation that can help to carry the program into the Rugby World Cup 2025 in England. We have a great blend of young players and veterans to guide them. The camaraderie within the group has been great to see develop in Spain. Young players from the pathway picking the brains of seasoned veterans as well as providing different insights from their experiences. The energy overall has been very positive with everyone wanting to take pride in their actions and represent USA Rugby in the best possible way.”

Numerous new Eagles are positioned to earn their first USA cap on Saturday, with Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, and Summer Harris-Jones named to the starting XV and Megan Neyen, Sophia Haley, Kristin Bitter, and Autumn Czaplicki on bench.

USA EAGLES SIDE TO FACE SPAIN

15 Meya Bizer - DMP Sharks
14 Summer Harris-Jones - USA Sevens
13 Eti Haungatau - Sale Sharks
12 Gabby Cantorna - Exeter Chiefs
11 Bulou Mataitoga - Loughborough Lightning
10 McKenzie Hawkins - Colorado Greywolves
9 Olivia Ortiz - DMP Sharks
1 Hope Rogers - Exeter Chiefs
2 Kathryn Treder - DMP Sharks
3 Mae Sagapolu - Central Washington University
4 Jenny Kronish - Harlequins
5 Evelyn Ashenbrucker - San Diego Surfers
6 Tahlia Brody - Cheltenham Tigers
7 George Perris-Redding - Sale Sharks
8 Kate Zackary - Exeter Chiefs, capt

16 Jett Hayward - Life West Gladiatrix
17 Maya Learned - Gloucester-Hartpury
18 Catie Benson - Sale Sharks
19 Megan Neyen - Beantown RFC
20 Sophia Haley - Dartmouth College
21 Carly Waters - Sale Sharks
22 Kristin Bitter - Dartmouth College
23 Autumn Czaplicki - USA Sevens