Rugby Legend: Hope Rogers Surpasses Burke’s Cap Record in Front of Record Crowd

On Friday night at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, prop Hope Rogers will make her 52nd appearance for the USA Women’s Eagles, officially becoming the most-capped Women’s Eagle in history.

The record-breaking moment comes as Rogers surpasses Jamie Burke’s long-standing record, which stood for over a decade. It’s fitting that such a monumental milestone comes during one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s rugby—USA vs. Canada—and in front of a sellout crowd that will also set a new attendance record for a standalone Women’s rugby match in the U.S.

Head Coach Sione Fukofuka said it best:
“Hope is humble as a person and works so hard on and off the field it’s easy to celebrate her success. She’s a world-class player, selected in the 2024 World Rugby Dream Team, and is helping push standards every day.”

Rogers first debuted for the USA in 2013 against France. Since then, she’s become a three-time Rugby World Cup veteran (2014, 2017, and 2021) and a cornerstone of the national team’s forward pack. Known for her power, relentless work rate, and leadership, she’s also shone in the Premier 15s with Exeter Chiefs and previously for Life West and in the WPL.

Her journey into rugby began at 16, and from there she became a four-time national champion with Penn State, a two-time MVP, and the 2015 Sorenson Award winner. Off the pitch, Rogers holds a degree in Childhood and Early Adolescent Education and has coached high school rugby.

This isn’t just a personal achievement—it’s a marker for the growth of the women’s game in the U.S. As Rogers runs out on Friday in the No. 1 jersey, she represents not only her own legacy but the potential for future Eagles. In her own words:

“Rugby is everything I never even dreamed of. It saved my life completely in so many ways… It gave me a home, a family, a purpose.”

As the Eagles prepare to take on Canada in the opening match of the 2025 Pacific Four Series, all eyes will be on Rogers—not just for what she’s accomplished, but for what she continues to bring to the jersey, the team, and the sport.