Bella Vogel and Nina Mason: From high school rivals to perfect Eagles pairing

Back when Nina Mason and Bella Vogel were in high school, they would often play against each other for their respective clubs in Pennsylvania, Doylestown and Knightmares Rugby. It was not an enjoyable experience.

“I was not a fan of Nina. It was hard because she was just really good,” laughs Vogel, before Mason adds: “It was not fun when we were playing against each other.”

Partnering up as a 10-12 axis initially for Life University – in Marietta, Georgia – and now for the USA has meant no more battles against each other out on the field. “Now, it’s good,” adds Vogel. “It’s great we’re together on the same team.”

The mood in the Eagles’ camp right now is sky high. Five wins on the bounce, including two over Italy in recent weeks, have set the USA up perfectly ahead of a historic match against England, the first time the Eagles have faced the world champions on home soil in seven years.

The squad also had something else to celebrate this week. Vogel, 19, became the first USA player to be nominated for World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

A goalkicking centre with great acceleration, Vogel has made some impact on this Eagles side since her debut back in April. The moment her nomination was announced in a team meeting by the USA coach, Jack Hanratty, will no doubt stick with her forever.

“I was in shock,” admits Vogel. “One of the best surprises I’ve ever had in my whole life. [The team] all just stood up and came over, and I just love this team so much. They are so supportive, and they’re so happy for everyone else and everyone’s opportunities.

“My heart was beating so fast. I can’t even explain it. It was even cooler almost than the award, having all of them [there]. I’m so grateful for it. Just the nomination is incredible.

“I’m hoping that it starts more awards for this team, because so many players on our team deserve awards. They’re incredible players and I’m shocked that it hasn’t happened before.”

Mason’s debut came more recently in September in the USA’s win over Ireland, with Vogel’s earlier selection giving Mason plenty of motivation.

“It’s a dream. That was our goal, we would always talk about it at Life, and now it’s actually happening,” Mason explains.

“I was really happy for Bella [making her debut], but yeah, honestly, it just kind of made me want it more, too. We kind of have a good competition going in practice and we make each other better, I think.”

Their two paths to finding the sport were slightly different. Vogel recalls her parents seeing an advert about a rugby camp, signing her up, and becoming hooked. Whereas Mason’s father and grandfather both played, with her father persuading Mason to try the sport out when she was 14.

“He didn’t take me to the high school practice – he took me to the women’s practice,” Mason recalls. “I said I didn’t like it, and he was like ‘no, it’s fine, you’re just gonna keep trying’. And then I ended up really liking it.”

Asked to describe the other player, Mason praises Vogel’s “rugby IQ and her kicking abilities”, adding that Vogel has “really good vision of the field, so she’s a great playmaker.”

As for Mason, Vogel describes her as “detailed, prepared for everything and anything”, with an “insane” boot. Plus a fierce enough tackler to make you want to swap sides in training.

“She’s really tough,” adds Vogel. “I used to be terrified to play her in high school. Still now in practice I’m like, ‘Dang it! Can we go on the same team?’”

Mason has been at fly-half and Vogel at inside centre for the recent wins over Italy and Wales, with the two playmakers crediting Life University coach Ryszard Chadwick for developing their playmaking abilities.

The USA are currently in a good place, with their forwards particularly impressive in their most recent 54-24 win over Italy, dominating with short-range carries as No. 8 Freda Tafuna finished with a hat-trick.

“I think a couple times we were definitely calling for the backs, but they kept going forward and we were like ‘Okay, we can’t really pull it away from them if they’re just gonna keep going over the line’,” adds Vogel.

As two young players finding their feet in Test rugby, the experience of the likes of Hope Rogers and Kate Zackary, the USA Women’s two most-capped players, has been invaluable.

“I’m a very nervous person, so when I’m struggling with that they bring me back up and get me level-headed again for whether it’s practice or games,” openly admits Mason. “It does help a lot having them, going over film and working stuff out.”

Given that England come into this week’s game having just lost back-to-back Test matches for the first time since 2016, both against Canada, the USA are facing John Mitchell’s side at an interesting time, with the Eagles on their best winning streak for 20 years.

In this year’s Pacific Four Series the USA had positive spells against both New Zealand and Canada before fading away. There is a chance, Vogel believes, that they can catch teams of that calibre, like England, off guard.

“I feel like a lot of teams, maybe they can overlook us sometimes, I guess. I’m really excited to show England what we’re made of,” she admits, before dialling up the pressure on the world champions.

“I think that we do have a lot of momentum, and I think they’re going to put themselves under a ton of pressure right now. I think that we can capitalise on that really well.”

Even pushing England close, having not defeated the Red Roses since 1991, would in itself send a major message that the USA are a side to be taken seriously. And in Mason and Vogel, they have a playmaking partnership to build around for many years to come.