USA team named to face England - 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

Thursday, 21 August 2025 at 15:04

byTom Sansom

USA Eagles Head Coach Sione Fukofuka has announced the 23-player squad that will take on England, for the opening match of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. Whilst all the pre-match expectation is on the Red Roses to ignite their home hosted tournament with a hot start at the Stadium of Light, the USA are out the extinguish the hype with an almighty upset in Sunderland.

Fukofuka has named 11 players who will make their first Rugby World Cup appearance, including the imposing Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher, who has been at the forefront of the build-up. The iconic social media sensation will start in the centres, and forms a Olympic sevens partnership with Alev Kelter.

USA legend and Exeter Chiefs prop Hope Rogers will continue to add to her record caps tally, as she makes her 56th USA cap from loose head. The Americans will once again be skippered by their formidable captain Kate Zackary, who's poised for a positional clash with England captain Zoe Aldcroft across their respective back rows.

Fukofuka discussed the selected squad: “Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England. We know they have big external expectations on them as world number one and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage.”

A crowd of over 40,000 is expected to descend upon the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday evening, with England and the USA set for a kick-off 19:30 (UK time). Elsewhere in Pool A, Australia take on Samoa at the Salford Community Stadium on Saturday.

1. Hope Rogers Exeter Chiefs
2. Kathryn Treder Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
3. Keia Mae Sagapolu Loughborough Lightning
4. Tahlia Brody Loughborough Lightning
5. Erica Jarrell – Searcy Sale Sharks
6. Kate Zackary Ealing Trailfinders
7. Georgie Perris-Redding Sale Sharks
8. Rachel Johnson Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx
9. Olivia Ortiz Sale Sharks
10. McKenzie Hawkins Denver Onyx
11. Bulou Mataitoga Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
12. Alev Kelter Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
13. Ilona Maher Bristol Bears / USA Sevens
14. Emily Henrich Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees
15. Lotte Sharp Saracens

16. Paige Stathopoulos Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees
17. Alivia Leatherman Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini
18. Charli Jacoby Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds
19. Rachel Ehrecke Denver Onyx
20. Freda Tafuna Lindenwood University
21. Cassidy Bargell Boston Banshees
22. Kristin Bitter Denver Onyx
23. Sariah Ibarra USA Sevens