Four Chiefs in USA Eagles squad

By Mark Stevens
15/3/23

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been named in the USA Eagles Women’s squad for clashes against Spain and Canada.

Kate Zackary is captain of Rich Ashfield’s 30-strong squad, which also includes club-mates Gabby Cantorna, Rachel Johnson and Hope Rogers. All four formed part of the USA’s squad that featured in last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Ahead of the 2023 Pacific Four Series, the Eagles will tackle Spain in Madrid on Saturday, March 25, before kicking off their Series with a clash against Canada, also in Madrid, on Saturday, April 1.

Australia and New Zealand will play in the second round of the series in June, before the four teams reunite in Canada for the final stop in early July. This will be the third time the Women’s Eagles will play in the series.

This will be the first time the squad will come together under Interim Head Coach Ashfield, who stepped in after Rob Cain announced his departure.

“We’ve identified a promising pool of players from various different pathways, so this is an exciting time to kick-off a new cycle as we look to build towards 2025,” said Ashfield. “These upcoming fixtures will be a great opportunity to get some talented age grade players exposure to what it is like to play with the senior side.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing a couple of sevens players involved in 15s again, as well as some solid WPL players that we plan on bringing into the mix. In addition to delivering some great rugby, my goal is to build a strong foundation and depth of players leading up to 2025.”

USA EAGLES WOMEN’S SQUAD

Tiara A’au – Rhino Academy
Evelyn Ashenbrucker – San Diego Surfers
Catherine Benson – Sale Sharks
Kristin Bitter – Dartmouth College
Meya Bizer – DMP Sharks
Tahlia Brody – Cheltenham Tigers
Gabby Cantorna – Exeter Chiefs
Lottie Clapp – Saracens
Autumn Czaplicki – USA Sevens
Rachel Ehrecke – DMP Sharks
Tess Feury – DMP Sharks
Sophia Haley – Dartmouth College
Summer Harris-Jones – USA Sevens
McKenzie Hawkins – Colorado Greywolves
Eti Haungatau – Sale Sharks
Jett Hayward – Life West Gladiatrix
Rachel Johnson – Exeter Chiefs
Joanna Kitlinksi – Sale Sharks
Jenny Kronish - Harlequins
Maya Learned – Gloucester-Hartpury
Bulou Mataitoga – Loughborough Lightning
Megan Neyen – Beantown RFC
Olivia Ortiz – DMP Sharks
Georgie Parris-Redding – Sale Sharks
Hope Rogers – Exeter Chiefs
Keiamae Sagapolu – Central Washington University
Kathryn Treder – DMP Sharks
Alycia Washington – Sale Sharks
Carly Waters – Sale Sharks
Kate Zackary – Exeter Chiefs, capt