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USA name strong team to face Red Roses in Sunderland
By Lucy Lomax
USA Eagles Head Coach Sione Fukofuka has announced the 23 players to take on England in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
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Fukofuka has named 11 players who will make their first Rugby World Cup appearance including Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher who will play in the centres next to fellow sevens Olympian Alev Kelter.
USA legend Hope Rogers will continue to add to her record caps tally from loose head as captain Kate Zackary starts at blindside flanker.
Fukofuka commented: “Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England.
“We know they have big external expectations on them as world number one and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage.”
A crowd of over 40,000 will be at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday evening, kick-off 19:30, with the Eagles kicking off their World Cup campaign in Pool A. Read the Pool A guide here.
USA Women’s Eagles v England
1. Hope Rogers Exeter Chiefs
2. Kathryn Treder Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
3. Keia Mae Sagapolu Loughborough Lightning
4. Tahlia Brody Loughborough Lightning
5. Erica Jarrell – Searcy Sale Sharks
6. Kate Zackary Ealing Trailfinders
7. Georgie Perris-Redding Sale Sharks
8. Rachel Johnson Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx
9. Olivia Ortiz Sale Sharks
10. McKenzie Hawkins Denver Onyx
11. Bulou Mataitoga Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
12. Alev Kelter Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
13. Ilona Maher Bristol Bears / USA Sevens
14. Emily Henrich Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees
15. Lotte Sharp Saracens
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16. Paige Stathopoulos Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees
17. Alivia Leatherman Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini
18. Charli Jacoby Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds
19. Rachel Ehrecke Denver Onyx
20. Freda Tafuna Lindenwood University
21. Cassidy Bargell Boston Banshees
22. Kristin Bitter Denver Onyx
23. Sariah Ibarra USA Sevens
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