In total, only five players from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 have been selected to compete for the USA in Calgary from 27 June to 6 July.
Front row returnees include Katy Augustyn, Sarah Chobot and Hope Rogers. Kimber Rozier (pictured) brings her experience to lead the backline, while Deven Owsiany slots in as scrum-half.
An additional five capped players have been selected by Women’s Eagles head coach Pete Steinberg with Stacey Bridges, Molly Kinsella, Jennifer Lui, Laura Miller and Samantha Pankey adding experience to a youthful side.
“We have an experienced core and an exciting new crop of players,” said Steinberg. “The new players have very different pathways to being selected, in terms of time played, but we are excited to see what they can do in Canada.”
The Eagles will open their Super Series account against world champions England at Calgary Rugby Park on 27 June. The tournament curtain-raiser will be followed by Canada versus New Zealand.
USA will then square off against rivals and host nation Canada, at Red Deer Rugby Club four days later. The match follows New Zealand versus England.
To round off the double-header competition, on Sunday, 5 July, Ellerslie Rugby Park will host the Eagles and a familiar opponent in New Zealand with Canada versus England concluding the tournament schedule. The Black Ferns won both matches against Steinberg’s side at WRWC 2014.
USA squad: Kathryn Augustyn, Catherine Benson, Stacey Bridges, Elizabeth Cairns, Sarah Chobot, Bianca Dalal, Cheta Emba, Tiffany Faaee, Jordan Gray, Nicole Heavirland, Molly Kinsella, Joanna Kitlinski, Jennifer Lui, Samantha Luther, Laura Miller, Deven Owsiany, Jane Paar, Samantha Pankey, Sara Parsons, Lauren Rhode, Hope Rogers, Kimberly Rozier, Jennifer Sever, Kelsi Stockert, Alycia Washington, Jessica Wooden.
Canada strike a balance
Thirteen of the side that helped Canada to a second place finish at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 are joined by 14 less experienced players for the Super Series tournament in Alberta.
“We are two years away from the next World Cup,” coach Francois Ratier said following the announcement of his 27-strong squad. “It is time for young or new players to have their chance and for the returning players to take the lead. I am expecting a strong chemistry during this Super Series.
“Team culture is the key and the team will always be more important than individuals.”
Tyson Beukeboom, Latoya Blackwood, Andrea Burk (pictured), Olivia DeMerchant, Mary-Jane Kirby, Barbara Mervin, Jacey Murphy, Cindy Nelles, Laura Russell, Maria Samson, Amanda Thornborough, Brittany Waters and Julianne Zussman are the returning World Cup players who did their country proud in France.
“It’s always important to play the best in the world,” Ratier said. “New Zealand and England have both new coaches so we will see what they have to offer. They all will be strong, there’s no doubt about that.”
In the lead up to the squad selection, Atlantic, East and West camps were held where players had the opportunity to showcase their skills to Ratier and his staff.
“These camps went well, players performed fitness tests, worked on basic skills, decision making and team culture,” Ratier said. “It’s important to have these regional camps to maintain a high performance environment during the off season.”
Canada squad: Gillian Allen, Tyson Beukeboom, Layota Blackwood, Andrea Burk, Olivia DeMerchant, Julia Folk, Lisa Gauthier, Chelsea Guthrie, Lori Josephson, Mary-Jane Kirby, Carolyn McEwan, Katie McNally, DaLeaka Menin, Barbara Mervin, Jacey Murphy, Jess Neilson, Cindy Nelles,, Tiffany Picketts, Camile Provencal-Aube, Laura Russell, Maria Samson, Natasha Smith, Emma Taylor, Alex Tessier, Amanda Thornborough, Brittany Waters, Julianne Zussman,
Hunter replaces injured Mclean as England captain
Sarah Hunter will captain England as she returns to play in her first tournament since helping England to win Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014. Hunter has been sidelined with a knee injury since the start of the year. Katy Mclean, who captained England during the RBS Women’s 6 Nations, is ruled out through injury.
Emily Scarratt, the star of the victorious 21-9 World Cup final win against Canada, also returns to 15s rugby for the first time this season having been involved in England’s sevens Olympic qualification campaign. The strong-running centre cum full-back has been named as vice-captain.
Marlie Packer (pictured) and Heather Fisher are also back for their first starts in 10 months having been involved with England Sevens.
At the other end of the experience scale, England will travel to Canada with two uncapped players in Megan Jones and Lark Davies. Fly-half/centre Jones has been on England’s radar for some time now, and played in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens last season, but has been unlucky with injuries while hooker Davies has progressed through the England under-20s ranks.
Middleton, who travels to Canada with new 15s lead coach Scott Bemand and assistant coach Matt Ferguson, said: “This is a really exciting squad and we are really looking forward to developing as a team, and playing against some stellar opposition.
“We have brought back some experienced names in Sarah Hunter, Heather Fisher and Marlie Packer. They will bolster our already strong back row options with Hannah Gallagher and Alex Matthews doing a great job during the Six Nations.
"She is a world class player and can offer so much experience to our younger squad members"
“Emily will also be vital both on and off the field. She is a world class player and can offer so much experience to our younger squad members.
“We have our sights set on the 2017 Rugby World Cup so I am really excited to see how players like Lark Davies and Megan Jones fair on this tour as this is their opportunity to step up. Players like Bianca Blackburn, Abbie Brown and Amy Cokayne also showed their potential during the Six Nations. By nurturing this talent now, we will bolster the depth in our squad which is really exciting for the future.”
England will play the USA on 27 June in Calgary before taking on fierce rivals New Zealand on 1 July in Red Deer. Canada provide their final opposition on 5 July in Edmonton.
Middleton added: “The most important things for us in Canada is our performance and developing that winning mentality. With this new squad, we are working hard to develop the style of play we want to play, and finding out as much as we can about each other. I have confidence in this squad and I know that if we get the performance right, the results will come.”
England squad: Bianca Blackburn, Abbie Brown, Rowena Burnfield, Rochelle Clark, Amy Cokayne, Victoria Cornborough, Lark Davies, Heather Fisher, Vicky Fleetwood, Hannah Gallagher, Sarah Hunter (captain), Megan Jones, Laura Keates, Ceri Large, Justine Lucas, Katie Mason, Alexandra Matthews, Sarah McKenna, Marlie Packer, Fiona Pocock, Amber Reed, Leanne Riley, Emily Scarratt, Abbie Scott, Emily Scott, Tamara Taylor, Lydia Thompson, Kay Wilson.
Black Ferns on WRWC 2017 countdown
New Black Ferns head coach Greg Smith has selected a large number of previously untried players for this summer's Super Series as he looks to build a squad capable of winning Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017.
The 26-strong Black Ferns squad includes 12 new players and will be captained by incumbent skipper Fiao’o Fa’amausili. It includes 46-cap half-back Emma Jensen, and New Zealand women’s sevens players Honey Hireme and Selica Winiata (pictured).
Former Waikato hooker Smith said the high number of rookies reflected the depth of talent in New Zealand and the increasing popularity of the women’s game.
"Over the past six months we’ve seen 110 women from all over New Zealand at our regional programmes and it's clear from the enthusiasm of players, that it’s a very exciting time for women’s rugby"
“This competitive series represents the start of our build up to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017, and not surprisingly a number of senior players retired after last year’s tournament while a number of others are out of contention due to injury.
"Luckily, there are a lot of exciting young players who are working very hard to earn an international spot. We have two top netballers in the squad – Charmaine Smith and Keri Hayden - who see an opportunity to represent their country. They have made the squad because of their fitness, skills and athleticism.
“Over the past six months we’ve seen 110 women from all over New Zealand at our regional programmes and it's clear from the enthusiasm of players, that it’s a very exciting time for women’s rugby. There is a real sense of momentum out there.”
Eight Storm players selected in the Black Ferns; Fa'amausili (c), Nelson, Blackwell, @cHalapua, @LItunu, A Itunu, Demant and @emjhurro
— Auckland Rugby (@AucklandRugby)
June 2, 2015
New Zealand squad: Toka Natua, Fiao'o Fa'amausili (captain), Aleisha Nelson, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine Smith, Charlene Halapua, Justine Lavea, Linda Itunu, Aldora Itunu, Sita Kuruyabaki, Teresa Te Tamaki, Rebekah Tufuga, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Angie Sisifa, Kendra Cocksedge, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Chelsea Alley, Stacey Waaka, Keri Hayden, Honey Hireme, Selica Winiata, Renee Wickliffe, Kiritapu Demant, Emma Jensen, Arihana Marino, Janna Vaughan.
Women’s Rugby Super Series fixtures:
June 27: USA v England, kick-off 16:00, New Zealand v Canada, kick-off: 18:30,Calgary, Calgary Rugby Park
July 1: New Zealand v England, kick-off 16:00, Canada v USA, kick-off 18:30, Red Deer, Red Deer Rugby Club
July 5: New Zealand v USA, kick-off 16:00, Canada v England, kick-off 18:30, Edmonton, Ellerslie Rugby Park,
*all kick-offs local time
