Alev Kelter: Why LA 2028 Games could see multiple Eagles stars return to sevens

Alev Kelter has played rugby around the world, tasted Olympic success, played in three Rugby World Cups, and she is not done yet.

With the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles there is the possibility that Kelter could make a return to the shortened form of the sport. Beyond that there is the 2029 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and then the 2033 edition across the USA, with former Canada sevens coach Jack Hanratty, who led the team to Paris 2024 silver, unveiled as the man to take the Eagles 15s team forward, culminating in a home World Cup in less than eight years time.

Playing in front of home supporters would mean Kelter would still be going strong aged 44. At this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, South Africa captain Nolusindiso Booi was the eldest player, aged 40. Having arrived late to the sport after excelling at ice hockey and football, Kelter sees no reason why she shouldn’t still be playing at the highest level.

“As much rugby as possible is the dream, as long as my body is healthy and I can still produce at the speed in which the game’s playing,” said the American. “I’d love to be a part of it. I’d love to put my hand up for LA, to lace my boots up on home soil, maybe as one last throw for sevens, and then specialise in 15s. That would be a dream.

“It takes a lot of different chemistries to be successful at sevens, with your fitness levels, but as we develop into our late 30s for women, our bodies are transitioning and giving back to us amazing results. I feel like if I keep taking care of myself, my mind’s right, and it’s right for the team, then that opportunity should be there.

“The body can do amazing things, and if our mind and our bodies are in sync, I think anything is possible.”

Two women have become the public faces for rugby in the US with women’s rugby riding a crest of a wave after their Paris 2024 bronze medal and the awarding of the 2033 World Cup. One is Michele Kang; the philanthropist and entrepreneur became a devotee of the sport after she was invited to watch the bronze medal match at the Stade de France, and soon after announced her intention to invest $4million into the sport over four years.

“If you talk about philanthropy, Michele Kang is the name,” Kelter said. “She’s put $25 million into women’s football, and helped players come back from ACL surgeries, changed the boots, and developed a system for pregnant women to come back and play.

“She’s been such an advocate for women’s sports for the last 10 years. She saw rugby for the first time, which was one of the games in Paris, and then our CEO brought her back for our bronze medal match, and after that, she said, ‘I’m invested, I love these girls, they’re the real deal. We’re gonna put $4 million over the next four years and get ready for a gold medal performance in LA on home soil.’

“We need more women like Michelle, and it’s beautiful to see the fruits of our labours coming to fruition in a monetary form. We desperately need more of that in the women’s 15s game, especially in America, and I would argue all across the world for 15s.”

The other is Kelter’s partner in the centre during the World Cup, and fellow bronze medal winner, Ilona Maher, who has not just become the face of women’s rugby in the US, but around the world. Since the World Cup, she has taken time away from the sport without announcing where her playing future lies, but Kelter predicts we’ll see her on the pitch again.

“Ilona is doing Ilona,” Kelter said. “What she does best is to advocate for the sport and advocate for women in rugby, and she’s doing a phenomenal job of that.

“She’s looking at, probably, gearing up for LA in ’28, and there might be some 15s in between, but I would say you’d have to ask her. She’s properly famous, and we’re blessed to be around her 24-7 when we’re in the residency. She’s hilarious, and she knows who she is and what she wants, and I admire her and her advocacy.”

While the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and 2033 World Cup are for the future, Kelter’s immediate focus is helping her Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) side Loughborough Lightning remain on target for the play-off places.

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Kelter joined Lightning at the end of 2024, following her involvement at WXV 1, returning to the league having previously played for Saracens who she won the title with in 2022.

Last season, Lightning finished sixth in the table and missed out on the playoffs, something their current progress means they are on track to avoid.

“This PWR season I’m really invested and want to really show what Loughborough can do,” Kelter said. “The team is shaping out to be a top-four team, so we’re really excited about the rest of the season.

“This professional league is the best in the world, and so it’s really nice to see other players finding their homes moving around, figuring out what the best fit is. We’re playing really good rugby, and it’s an honour to be over here.

“We have such a wide range of fans, which is beautiful, but we need to invest in spotlighting the athletes that are there. Whether it’s internationals or up-and-coming Red Roses. It’s really important to get everyone’s stories told.”