U.S. Women’s Rugby Team Names Side to Face Canada – Can-Am

BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Women’s National Rugby Team officially released its starting lineup set to face Canada in the first of its two Can-Am matches.

The first match kicks off on Monday, June 14 at the Shawnigan Lake School in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. at 4 p.m. (PDT). The second Can-Am Match will be on Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, B.C.

This two-game Can-Am series marks the last two test matches that the U.S. will have before departing to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. The matches will be shown live via U-Stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-rugby

“While we consider ourselves fortunate to have a very strong rivalry with Canada, we must establish ourselves as a strong contender for the World Cup,” said U.S. Women’s Coach Kathy Flores. “We are selecting our final World Cup squad from this venue and competition for a place on the squad is tight so we are looking forward to a better performance than we’ve given in the past.”

In January, the last time the U.S. took on the Canadians, they came away with split results. In the last five matches against their northern rivals, the U.S. has gone 2-3, and although the U.S. won’t meet Canada in their pool play at the RWC, the U.S. Eagles could meet Rugby Canada in the fourth round of matches in September.

The USA Women’s lineup includes:

1. Jamie Burke (Beantown)
2. Kitt Wagner (Beantown)
3. Rachel Reddick (Berkeley All-Blues)
4. Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M)
5. Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries) *Captain
6. Beckett Royce (ORSU)
7. Phaidra Knight (New York Rugby Club)
8. Kate Daley (Keystone)
9. Kimberly Magrini (Keystone)
10. Hannah Stolba (Minnesota Valkyries)
11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
12. Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota Valkyries)
13. Amy Daniels (Beantown)
14. Vanesha Mcgee (New York Rugby Club)
15. Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)
16. Farrah Douglas (Keystone)
17. Maurin Wallace (Beantown)
18. Sharon Blaney (Beantown)
19. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries)
20. Stephanie Bruce (Berkeley All-Bles)
21. Lynelle Kugler (Twin Cities Amazons)
22. Ashley Kmiecik (ORSU)

For more information on the Women’s National Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles or contact Swright@usarugby.org.

Canada Roster

1. Tabitha Stavrou 2. Lesley McKenzie 3. Marlene Donaldson 4. Megan Gibbs 5. Marie-Eve Brindamour-Carignan 6. Barbara Mervin 7. Gillian Florence 8. Kelly Russell 9. Laura Stoughton 10. Anna Schnell 11. Maria Gallo – CAPTAIN 12. Sarah Ulmer 13. Mandy Marchak 14. Brittany Waters 15. Ashley Patzer

Replacements: 16. Corinne Jacobsen 17. Kim Donaldson 18. Jennifer Kish 19. Heather Jaques 20. Julia Sugawara 21. Brooke Hilditch 22. Heather Moyse