Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

5-22-2006 - Women's World Cup Squad Named
USA RUGBY WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP ROSTER

BOULDER, Colo. USA Rugby Women's National Team all-time caps leader Patty Jervey has made an unprecedented fifth Women's Rugby World Cup team as head coach Kathy Flores has announced the squad of 26 players and four non-roster reserves that will represent the United States at this year's Women's Rugby World Cup, Aug. 31-Sept. 17 in Edmonton, Alberta.

I'm very happy with the squad we picked, said Flores. We tried to pick a team with a good combination of experience and youth, players that are veterans in the international game and those that will be exposed to it for the first time. We are really seeing the benefit and influence of our U-23 program, selecting players that may have another World Cup ahead of them.

While Jervey will be seeing her fifth World Cup, she will be joined by Hedwig Aerts, Kristin Baja, Jen Crouse, Heather Hale, Patty Jervey, Ellie Karvoski, Phaidra Knight and Meredith Ottens, all who played in 2002's World Cup in The Netherlands and came away with a seventh-place finish.

Position specific non-rostered players that will train and travel in the event of a team injury include hooker Lisa Butts (Chico, Calif.), prop Annie Collier (New York), scrumhalf Kim Magrini (Philadelphia) and wing Jen Sinkler (St. Louis Park, Minn.).

We have a good veteran pool of players that will really be able to teach the younger players that truly want to learn, and learn of the experiences of those older players.

While grateful for the veteran strength that returns, Flores mentioned that not having the knowledge, international experience, on and off-the-field commitment of players like Lisa Rowe, Alex Williams, and Diane Schnapp in '06 will be the real challenge for this squad.

Flores' staff includes Candi Orsini (assistant coach), Krista McFarren (assistant backs coach), Fr. lisa Bartoli (team physician), Tracy Moens (strength and conditioning), Sara Schouse and Katie Peterson (managers) and Anne Barry (program manager).

Prior to World Cup play, the team will assemble in Boulder from June 7-13 for fixtures against Rugby Canada June 10 and 13.

Now that the squad is picked and those players are confident about going, our focus in June will be on playing, game strategy and going forward to the World Cup and our continuity, said Flores.

Sixth seeded USA Rugby will open against England on Aug. 31 and continue cross-pool play against 10th-seeded Ireland (Sept. 4) and seventh-seeded Australia (Sept. 8).

After three match days, with each team having played three pool matches, positional semi-finals will be played with the top four-positioned sides vying to make the WRWC final, and all other sides playing matches in the final two rounds to determine final tournament standings.

The Eagles have a strong World Cup history as the U.S. won the first World Cup in 1991 (defeating England 19-6), and brought home runner-up finishes in both '94 and '98.

USA RUGBY WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM | 2006 WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP

AERTS, Hedwig
BAJA, Kristin
BRAYMER, Claudia
BURKE, Jamie
CABRERA, Laura
CARTER, Erin
COX, Kate
CROUSE, Jen
DUBRAY, Carrie
ENGLISH, Ashley
HALE, Heather
JERVEY, Patty
KARVOSKI, Ellie
KNIGHT, Lee
KNIGHT, Phaidra
KOSANKE, Pam
McDONALD, Laura
McMAHON, Kelly
MILLER, Danielle
NEDER, Pat
NESBERG, Tina
OTTENS, Meredith
POPE, Kate
WALLACE, Mari
WARNER, Keenya
ZDANCZEWICZ, Kristin

NON-ROSTERED RESERVES
BUTTS, Lisa
COLLIER, Annie
MAGRINI, Kim
SINKLER, Jen

RESERVES
AERTS, Kirsten
ANGLADE, Olivia
BARTH, Suzanna
BENNETT, Stacy
BRUCE, Stephanie
COSTELLO, Brenna
DOUGLAS, Farrah
HENRY, Tyshawn
JOYCE, Jen
KANUK, Mel
KUGLER, Lynelle
LANGE, Jaime
MACCALLUM, Katie
RINGGENBERG, Christy
TRUCANO, Chris
TURPIN, Kate
WARNER, Courtney
WHITMAN, Heidi
WHITMORE, Rose

USA RUGBY MANAGEMENT
Kathy Flores, Head Coach
Candy Orsini, Assistant Coach
Krista McFarren, Assistant Backs Coach
Dr. Lisa Bartoli, Team Doctor
Tracy Moens, Strength & Conditioning Coach
Sara Shouse, Katie Peterson, Managers
Anne Barry, Program Manager

2006 WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP | USA RUGBY SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 vs. England
Sept. 4 vs. Ireland
Sept. 8 vs. Australia
Sept. 12, TBA
Sept. 16, TBA
Sept. 17, Finals TBA