Women’s 2007 England Tour Updates

From USA Rugby:

BOULDER, Colo. – U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Kathy Flores has announced the team captains for the 2007 England Tour in December.

Veterans of the 2006 Women’s World Cup squad, Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries) will act as Captain and Ashley English (Berkeley All Blues) will serve as Vice Captain for the three match tour, which spans December 6-16.

“Besides being instrumental players in the 2006 World Cup, they are both products of the U-23 program. Kristin is a top rated flanker for the Minnesota Valkyries and Ashley English is the fullback for National Club Champions, the Berkeley All Blues,” Coach Flores said. “We are looking for their leadership and experience to guide this young squad going to England.”

The Women’s National Team kicks off the 2007 England Tour against the Nomads on December 8 and faces England A on December 12 and the England Women’s National Team on December 15.

For more information on the USA Women’s Eagles, please visit: www.usarugby.org/goto/Womens_Eagles.

From USA Rugby:

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby is pleased to announce First Sports International as the official sponsor of the 2007 Women’s Eagles Tour to England in December.

First Sports International (FSI), a leading provider of sports industry-focused technology solutions, has signed on as the Women’s National Team’s jersey sponsor for its three match tour, which spans December 6-16. The sponsorship also includes the branding of the team’s training kit with the FSI logo.

“As an international sports company, we are pleased to support the USA Rugby Women’s tour in England,” said David R. Simmons, Chairman, First Sports International. “Our passion for sport is the basis for our development of leading software solutions that provide governing bodies such as USA Rugby with the foundation they need to successfully build their grass roots participation for both women and men. We’re looking forward to a great competition between these top-ranked teams.”

First Sports International has proven itself committed to many of the world’s leading sports organizations and events, with clients that include the Rugby Football Union, The Football Association (The FA) and The Wimbledon Championships.

“It is always a great pleasure to welcome a new sponsor to USA Rugby,” said Nigel Melville, USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations. “FSI is keen to help us develop the sport of rugby in the United States and recognizes the Eagles as a team with a great future.”

The Women’s National Team kicks off the 2007 First Sports International England Tour against the Nomads on December 8 and faces England A on December 12 and the England Women’s National Team on December 15.

‘The tour to England will be a fantastic challenge. If we want to be serious contenders in the 2010 Women’s World Cup we have to play and beat the best in the world,” Melville said.

USA RUGBY, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby in the U.S., and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization is responsible for the development of boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club athletic programs, and ultimately, the nine national teams representing the United States in international competition. For more information on USA Rugby and its supporting partners visit www.usarugby.org/goto/sponsors.

About First Sports International – First Sports International (FSI) is the leading provider of full-service software and business solutions to many of the world’s top sporting organizations and events. Built upon a core repository of information for all individuals associated with a National Governing Body (NGB) or event, the solution manages the administration of participants, fans, volunteers and ticket buyers as well as the execution of player registration, membership and fan programs, ticketing, accreditation and premium seating/hospitality sales systems. Visit www.first-sports.com to learn more or call + 1 404.504.6213.

From Goff (subscription req.):

November 23, 2007 – The USA women’s national team is set to depart for England in a little more than a week, and will face the Nomads in Aylesbury December 8.

The Nomads are an international all-star team much like that of the fames Barbarians. The team started as an English Premiership all-star team.

“A lot of international players come to England while they are still playing for their country or after they have retired from international rugby,” said Nomads manager Fiona Stockley. “They were there to provide stiff competition for England A, and after a while it’s expended to be a more inclusive team.”

Players can only play for the Nomads if they have been capped by a national side, and the current squad contains players 11 countries.

This will be the first match of the Nomads season, which includes two games against England A. Canadian prop Leslie Cripps will captain the side, which features several players familiar with the Eagles, including former England scrumhalf Jo Yapp, fullback and Nomad vice captain Sue Day, also of England, and Ireland fullback Jo O’Sullivan.