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Hope Rogers to equal USA women’s cap record against Japan
USA and Exeter Chiefs prop Hope Rogers is set to equal the Women’s Eagles cap record this weekend, tying with Jamie Burke on 51 caps.
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Rogers became only the second woman to play 50 Tests for the USA during the last round of WXV 1 in 2024, when they played Ireland at Vancouver’s BC Place.
A stars and stripes stalwart, Rogers made her debut against France in 2013, and has gone on to represent her country at three Rugby World Cups so far, and is in search of a fourth later this year.
The loosehead prop was named in the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year for a second time in 2024, after also earning the number one place in 2022.
Head coach Sione Fukofuka has also named two uncapped players in his matchday team to play Japan as the USA prepare for the Pacific Four Series.
The match on Saturday 26th April, which will be the first time Japan have played a women’s Test in the USA, is available to watch live and for free on RugbyPass TV, available on the RugbyPass app.
The two sides last faced each other in a two-match series in Japan last year, with the Eagles winning one match and the other ending in a 17-17 draw.
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The latest fixture between the two will kick off at 17:30 PDT (01:30 am BST) and will be played at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, in a double header with RFCLA vs San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby’s Cali Cup.
Erica Coulibaly and Kapoina Bailey, who both play for Denver Onyx in the Women’s Elite Rugby league, are set to earn their first USA caps, with Coulibaly named on the left wing and back rower Bailey selected as a replacement.
Rogers will pack down with hooker Kathryn Treder and tighthead Keia Mae Sagapolu, who’s the only change to the front row that started in their last WXV game, with Charli Jacoby named on the bench.
Hallie Taufoou and Erica Jarrell continue to form a partnership in the engine room, albeit with a direct positional switch compared to the game against Ireland in October.
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Kate Zackary returns to captain the side, now for a seventh year, and will start at openside flanker alongside blindside flanker Tahlia Brody and number eight (and vice-captain) Rachel Johnson to complete an unchanged back row.
Olivia Ortiz starts at scrum-half, while McKenzie Hawkins, also named as a vice-captain, retains the number 10 jersey that she held for their entire WXV 1 campaign.
Olympic bronze medallist Alev Kelter and Emily Henrich will partner in the midfield as inside and outside centre, respectively.
Alongside debutant Coulibaly, the back three will be completed by Cheta Emba on the right wing and Bulou Mataitoga at full-back.
Fukofuka said to USA Rugby ahead of the match: “The team is excited and confident after two weeks together as an extended squad, in preparation for the Japan test; the first phase of our Rugby World Cup year.
“The players have put in a huge amount of work before camp and arrived physically well prepared to implement our game model and launch into our World Cup year with a positive performance.
“Japan are a very technical team, who work hard, have great speed in their defence and will force you to be accurate in all facets of the game. They are a challenging team to play and the perfect opponent for us to demonstrate our increased physicality, set piece accuracy and technical efficiency in our defence and break down. All elements that will need to be world-class for the Rugby World Cup.”
Following the game against Japan, the Eagles will host Canada in their opening match of the Pacific Four Series on 2 May at CPKC Stadium, Kansas City.
They will then travel to Australia, where they will face the Wallaroos in Canberra on 17 May before going to New Zealand to play Rugby World Cup champions, the Black Ferns, on 23 May in Auckland.
The USA will kick off their Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign in the tournament opener at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light against hosts and current number one ranked side England on 22 August. They will additionally face Australia and Samoa in the pool stage, both in York.
USA team to play Japan, 26 April. Kick-off 17:30 PDT
15. Bulou Mataitoga (Loughborough Lightning/Bay Area Breakers, 21)
14. Cheta Emba (Boston Banshees, 12)
13. Emily Henrich (Leicester Tigers/Boston Banshees, 20)
12. Alev Kelter (Loughborough Lightning/Bay Area Breakers, 26)
11. Erica Coulibaly (Denver Onyx, Debut)
10. McKenzie Hawkins (VC) (Denver Onyx, 20)
9. Olivia Ortiz (Sale Sharks, 21)
1. Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs, 50 caps)
2. Kathryn Treder (Loughborough Lightning/Bay Area Breakers, 25)
3. Keia Mae Sagapolu (ACT Brumbies, 14)
4. Hallie Taufoou (Loughborough Lightning/Denver Onyx, 22)
5. Erica Jarrell (Sale Sharks, 13)
6. Tahlia Brody (Leicester Tigers/Denver Onyx, 10)
7. Kate Zackary (C) (Trailfinders Women, 40)
8. Rachel Johnson (VC) (Exeter Chiefs/Denver Onyx, 32)
Replacements
16. Paige Stathopoulos (Trailfinders Women/Boston Banshees, 13
17. Maya Learned (Denver Onyx, 15)
18. Charli Jacoby (Exeter Chiefs/Queensland Reds, 32)
19. Rachel Ehrecke (Denver Onyx, 18)
20. Kapoina Bailey (Denver Onyx, Debut)
21. Cass Bargell (Boston Banshees, 4)
22. Kristin Bitter (Denver Onyx,3)
23. Tess Feury (Leicester Tigers/New York Exiles, 31)
