The US Women's Eagles enter their WXV Global Series match against the world champion England Red Roses in Harrison, New Jersey, on Friday with five consecutive victories. The squad blends significant experience with emerging youth, highlighted by Bella Vogel, a 19-year-old center and fly-half from Washington Boro, Pennsylvania. Vogel has become the first American ever nominated for a major World Rugby award, specifically the Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Still a student at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, she describes her nomination as a team effort, noting that her role is often to facilitate opportunities for teammates like No 8 Freda Tafuna.
Tafuna, a 23-year-old from Lindenwood University, has been instrumental in the Eagles' recent success. After winning the MA Sorensen Award for college player of the year twice and scoring six tries at last year's World Cup, she netted three tries in a 54-24 victory over Italy last Saturday. That performance helped lift the US to sixth place in the world rankings. While England remains ranked first, their formidable 41-game unbeaten streak ended this month with two defeats against Canada. The Eagles have also shown improvement by defeating Ireland and Australia earlier this year, contesting supremacy in an evolving middle tier of women's rugby.
Coach Jack Hanratty acknowledges that England will be well-prepared, noting that the Red Roses are aware of key players like Tafuna and the Eagles' high try rates. He anticipates England will exploit speed and kicking options to test American defenses in new ways. "They'll be challenging us in a way that other teams maybe haven't," Hanratty said, emphasizing the need for the team to identify and counter potential weaknesses. Despite the challenge, Hanratty expressed excitement about the squad's momentum after an eight-week tour, describing the upcoming match as a crucial test against the world's best.
Vogel and her peers represent a new generation of American talent who discovered rugby at a younger age than previous cohorts. Homeschooled in rural Pennsylvania, Vogel began playing at 10 years old with Knightmare Rugby in Lancaster, eventually joining Nina Mason at Life University under coach Ryszard Chadwick. Both players are now integral to the national team, with Mason serving as fly-half and Vogel operating at center or fly-half while also handling goal-kicking duties. Their early development positions them to be in their athletic prime by the 2033 Women's World Cup in the US.
Vogel is aware of the skepticism surrounding her team, recalling online comments dismissing comparisons between England and the US. "I definitely think that England's gonna be a tough game," she said, predicting fans might say, "Oh, it's just USA, blah, blah, blah." She views the match as an opportunity to prove the Eagles are comparable to top-tier teams. The game will be broadcast in the US on Paramount Plus and in the UK via the England Rugby YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.