USA U20s v Canada kicks off

USA U20s aim go into their two games series with Canada tonight at Central Washington University aiming for their first win in the series since 2011.The game will be live streamed from midnight BST at http://www.cwu.edu/rugby-stream-live.

Published by John Birch, August 19th, 2015

6 minute read

Try Audio

USA U20s v Canada kicks off

Canada U20s, who defend this unbeaten record against the USA this evening.

USA and Canada begin a two match U20 test series tonight, with Canada leading 7-1 in a fixture that was first played in 2009.

Canadian head coach Jen Boyd has announced her squad of 23 as Canada faces the USA earlier today in the latest women’s U20 Can-Am contest. Katie Svoboda, who played on last year’s team, will captain the side. Emily Tuttosi and Alex Ellis are also included in the squad as returning players.“With 23 new players, half of which falling in the U19 age bracket, there has been a steep learning curve in the first two days of camp,” Boyd said. “Each of our two days together have been filled with pre-practice meetings, on-field sessions, video review and player meetings with coaching staff. The athletes have done a tremendous job preparing physically and mentally.“There are several familiar faces on the USA squad from last year’s Can-Am Series,” she continued. “USA Rugby has ensured continuity with their U20 program, both with their athletes and coaching staff. Like all USA teams before them, this U20 squad will be extremely athletic and physical. We look forward to the challenge.”Both games will take place at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. The Canadian squad features 23 new faces as only three players returned from last year’s winning team with a number of players graduating to the Senior Women’s squad this year for the Women’s Rugby Super Series.“I am most excited about working with a new group of U20 athletes,” Boyd said. “With only three returning players from 2014, this year’s U20 program is carrying 23 new athletes. That means there are 23 new athletes in the player pool, working toward the National Senior Women’s Team.”

Although the United States have yet to win a game against the Canadians, their youth programme has already uncovered several players who have gone on to star in the senior ranks including Meya Bizer, Jordan Gray, and Hope Rogers, and will be hoping to match the performance of their senior team who defeated Canada at the Women’s Rugby Super Series in July.

Six of the starting United States team - Ashlee Byrge, Kyla Chipman, Frieda Fetu’u, McKenzie Hawkins, Azniv Nalbandian, Danielle Ordway, and Abby Vogel - return from last year’s game with Sheila Decker, Caitlin Whiteside, and Adriana Zeiders also available from the bench

“As a coaching staff, we’ve been really impressed by the level of performance of the team both on and off the field this week,” United States coach Wil Snape said. “Everyone has put their hand up and they’ve challenged each other to raise standards every day.

“It’s an exciting group of players. They know we’ll need to push ourselves beyond where we’ve been before and they’re ready to express themselves against Canada.”

United States

1. Azniv Nalbandian, 2. Etta Mailau, 3. Abby Vogel, 4. Jennifer Johnson, 5. Frieda Fetu'u, 6. Taylah Pipkin, 7. Michele Navarro, 8. Kyla Chipman (C), 9. Carly Waters, 10. Gabriella Cantorna, 11. Ashlee Byrge, 12. McKenzie Hawkins, 13. Asinate Serevi, 14. Tess Feury, 15. Danielle OrdwayReplacements:16. Emily Prentice, 17. Sheila Decker, 18. Sadia Crosby, 19. Francesca Schaeffer, 20. Adriana Zeiders, 21. Katherine Ramage, 22. Leti Hingano, 23. Caitlin Whiteside

Canada

1. Jocelyn Berteit, (Calgary Rams) Calgary, AB, 2. Gillian Boag, (Capliano/UBC) Calgary, AB, 3. Joanna Alphonso, (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON, 4. Natalie Kwiecien, (Waterloo County Rugby) Waterloo, ON, 5. Jenna Thompson, (Montreal Barbarians) Montreal, QC, 6. Brooke Newsome, (Brantford Harlequins) Toronto, ON, 7. Katie Svoboda (Captain), (Belleville Bulldogs) Belleville, ON, 8. Gabrielle Senft, (Regina Women’s Rugby Club)Regina, SK, 9. Karina Stevenson, (Titans Rugby Club) Calgary, AB, 10. Jaelei Meyer, (Regina Rage) Carlyle, SK, 11. Dana Silerova, (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC) Montreal, QC, 12. Kelsey Owen, (Oshawa Vikings) Toronto, ON, 13. Britni French, (McMaster) Toronto, ON, 14. Petra Woods, (Toronto Saracens) Toronto, ON, 15. Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, PEI

Replacements:16. Emily Tuttosi, (Saskatoon Kirin) Souris, MB, 17. Alexandria Ellis, (Barrhaven Scottish) Ottawa, ON, 18. Meggie Turgeon, (Abenakis de Sherbrooke), Sherbrooke, QB, 19. Morgan Walker, (Abbotsford) Abbotsford, BC, 20. D’Arcy Dickinson, (Calgary Hornets) Calgary, AB, 21. Justine Pelletier, (Club de Rugby de Québec) Quebec City, QC, 22. Maddison Brattan, (Highland RFC) Toronto, ON, 23. Maddy Graham, (Edmonton Leprechaun Tigers) Edmonton, AB,

Game two will be on Saturday

Previous results

15/07/2009    Canada U20    38-20    USA U20    (Brunel University, London)    (Nations Cup)16/01/2010    USA U20    12-13    Canada U20    (Lakeland, Florida)20/08/2010    Canada U20    6-3    USA U20    (Nassau, Bahamas)    (NACRA)20/07/2011    USA U20    15-5    Canada U20    (Storke Field, Santa Barbara)    (Nations Cup)11/07/2013    Canada U20    25-15    USA U20    (Trent College)(Nations Cup)20/07/2013    Canada U20    27-3    USA U20    (Trent College)    (Nations Cup)20/08/2014Canada U20    51-5    USA U20    (London St. George’s RFC, Ontario)23/08/2014Canada U20    43-6    USA U20    (Sarnia, Ontario)

Post