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BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Global XV to watch out for at 2025 World Cup
England's star-studded squad are favourites to lift the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy in Wales and Scotland also have top talent looking to shine at the tournament which will see games played at eight venues across outside the home nations, who should you watch out for?Here is BBC Sport's global XV to keep an eye on. Prop - Hope Rogers (United States) The United States front-row forward has been a standout performer for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), winning a place in the league's team of the year for the past two 32-year-old, who scored a hat-tick against Australia in May, recently became the Eagles' most-capped women's player and is set to play in a fourth World Cup. Hooker - Katalina Amosa (Australia) The 23-year-old only made her Test debut in May against Fiji but has gone on to start four of Australia's past five Tests, bagging a try in a defeat by of those starts came against World Cup contenders New Zealand and Canada to mark an incredible rise for the dynamic Amosa, who only made her debut in Super Rugby - featuring four teams from Australia and one from Fiji - last brother, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, is also a hooker and came off the bench in the Wallabies' third Test win over the British and Irish Lions. Prop - DaLeaka Menin (Canada) The 30-year-old is another one of Exeter's destructive props, having joined the side in is a key player for World Cup-chasing Canada and was the player of the match in a victory over world champions New Zealand last as "a terrifying prospect" in the loose, Menin powered over in the Pacific Four Series' 27-27 draw against the Black Ferns in May. Lock - Manae Feleu (France) The all-action lock made four breakdown turnovers and stole two line-outs during this year's Women's Six 25-year-old, who is the France co-captain, also made the second-most offloads (eight).Feleu missed out on the player of the tournament to Ireland's Aoife Wafer but will be central to her side's World Cup prospects. Lock - Michaela Leonard (Australia) The 30-year-old played at the last World Cup for Australia and has captained the side face the Wallaroos on 6 September and Leonard will be aiming to disrupt the Red Roses' formidable line-out steals against Canada in this year's Pacific Four Series indicates she has the capacity to do so. Flanker - Sophie de Goede (Canada) The 26-year-old captained Canada to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022 and is one of the stars of the Saracens back rower, known for her barnstorming carries, returned to action last month after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered in June Goede, who is unique as goal-kicking forward, missed out on her Olympic dream last summer and will want to remind everyone why she is one of the best players in the world. Flanker - Kennedy Tukuafu (New Zealand) Tukuafu co-captained New Zealand to World Cup glory over England in 2022 and will be aiming to again lift the trophy.A typical open-side flanker who is sharp over the ball, the 28-year-old also enjoys carrying hard in the wider missed out on a starting spot in the last final, Tukuafu comes into this World Cup fully fit and an established starter. Number eight - Aseza Hele (South Africa) Hele has gone from strength-to-strength following her selection for the World Cup in 2022 after only five her side losing all three games three years ago, the 30-year-old caught the eye of Harlequins, who signed the big ball carrier in rugby certainly helped as she was at her dominant best in a World Cup warm-up win over a Black Ferns XV, skittling defenders off , externalfor fun. Scrum-half - Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France) Arguably the best scrum-half in the world, Bourdon Sansus continues to produce magical moments.A long-range drop-goal was part of an exceptional all-round player-of-the-match performance against Scotland in this year's Six of unpredictability, the 29-year-old has an excellent kicking game and can produce a moment of brilliance to unlock a defence. Fly-half - Ruahei Demant (New Zealand) The fly-half co-captained the Black Ferns to the World Cup title in 2022, before winning World Rugby women's player of the 30-year-old has experience on the biggest stage and produced a player-of-the-match performance in that final win over England in was at her silky best to help guide the Blues to this year's Super Rugby title in New Zealand and that was followed by helping the Black Ferns regain the Pacific Four Series. Wing - Kelly Arbey (France) A wonderful individual score against England in this year's Six Nations showed the 20-year-old can perform against the world's is not just her rapid pace and finishing ability that is a threat, Arbey has a wonderful offloading game, with a speculator one-handed effort setting up a try for Seraphine Okemba against French flyer is one of the youngest players in their World Cup squad but has taken to international rugby with ease. Centre - Alex Tessier (Canada) Another one of Exeter's foreign imports, Tessier is comfortable at both fly-half and inside 2024 World Rugby women's player of the year nominee will captain Canada at the tournament, which shows her value in a squad that contains former skipper De showed her dangerous running game with a try against England at last year's WXV1 tournament. Centre - Ilona Maher (United States) Ilona Maher has more than eight million followers on social media, the most of any rugby union player in the 29-year-old spent three months at Bristol Bears earlier this year, scoring four tries in a successful stint as attendances skyrocketed in the PWR. A first USA XVs cap since 2021 followed against New Zealand in May, with Maher using her powerful frame from outside the tournament opener is between the United States and hosts England, the stage does not get much bigger to shine. Wing - Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (New Zealand) Considered the greatest in the history of women's rugby, Woodman-Wickliffe has scored a record 20 World Cup tries and helped New Zealand become world champions in 2017 and April, the 34-year-old opted to come out of international retirement after stepping away following last summer's she still do it? A sensational seven tries against the United States in May showed her knack of scoring from the wing remains. Full-back - Claudia Pena (Spain) The full-back scored Spain's only try in a 97-7 World Cup warm-up hammering by the 20-year-old was a bright spark in the game and scored eight tries in an impressive debut season for ranked 13th in the world, face two difficult opening games against New Zealand and Ireland, but Pena's sharp acceleration and ability to stay strong in contact will make her a handful against the very best.
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
USA star Rogers extends Exeter contract
United States prop Hope Rogers has signed a new contract with Exeter for the forthcoming Premiership Women's Rugby 32, became the USA's most-capped player earlier this summer and was Exeter's top try-scorer last 10 tries helped her be named in the league's Dream Team, while she was also named in World Rugby's Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year in 2024."There is no doubt Hope is an outstanding international player and is a threat every time she takes to the field," Exeter interim head coach Steve Salvin said."Her exceptional low centre of gravity makes her almost impossible to stop at close quarters, which what makes her such a danger in the red zone."Rogers made her Exeter debut in January 2022 and has gone on to play 48 times, scoring 47 tries along the way. "I'm really excited for my fifth season here at Chiefs and I'm looking forward to building with the squad," Rogers said."Hopefully we can carry the momentum from the World Cup into our season and continue to grow and showcase women's rugby."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
USA hope to 'dent' England at Rugby World Cup
The United States have the potential to "put a dent into England" when they meet in the opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup, says Eagles prop Hope Rogers. Once the powerhouses of the women's game, having beaten England to win the inaugural World Cup in 1991, the US are now ranked ninth in the world but head into the tournament as professionals for the first time."We have that ability to be a top team in the world, and it's just really starting to step into that and own that and embrace it," Rogers, who plays club rugby for Exeter Chiefs, told BBC Sport."What you're going to see at the World Cup is hopefully a peaked USA side that can play for 80 minutes and win."It's strong talk from 32-year-old Hope who could play at her fourth tournament after featuring in 2014, 2017 and US lost all three of their recent Pacific Four Series matches, beaten by New Zealand, Canada and Australia, who were all in the top five in the world Rogers stood out with a hat-trick of tries in their 27-19 defeat by Australia."I want to keep raising the limits and break barriers of what it means to be a prop," she said at the event to mark 50 days until their game against England, which is being held in Sunderland."There are other props in the world that are doing the same thing, but I want to be known as one of them as well, and I want to be the best loosehead." Rogers turns record-breaker Rogers is the Eagles' most-capped women's player on 53. She made her 52nd appearance in their 26-14 defeat by Exeter Chiefs prop led out the side in front of a record-breaking crowd for a US women's rugby match of 10,518 in Kansas."It was amazing," she said. "You could feel the support and love, I've never felt that in my 12 years of playing for USA."When Rogers walked out, she made a heart symbol to the crowd and TV cameras which made quite a stir, as to who the heart was answer from the prop was straightforward. "It was for my team-mates because they were just there in full support in full love," she said. "And I think that's one thing that's special about our USA team is, you know, we talk a lot about how we have a great culture. We get along very well."
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Shock as American rugby star lands in hot water over ugly act that was branded 'thuggery' - as superstar Ilona Maher can't lead the USA to victory
Charlotte Caslick has opened her Wallaroos account in a 27-19 defeat of the USA, marred by a late red card for a head stamp. Rugby sevens convert Caslick scored the host's first try in Canberra on Saturday and, finding plenty of ball, showed some new tricks with a couple of clever grubbers in traffic on the wing. Eva Karpani scored once, back-rower Ashley Marsters found a double while Eagles forward Hope Rogers bagged a hat-trick as the home side overcame an early try to control the contest. The match will be remembered for Eagles centre Alev Kelter's red card though, the former ice hockey and soccer player sent off for stamping rival centre Georgina Friedrichs in the final minutes. An bronze medallist for the American sevens team in Paris last year, Kelter took a hit-up and then stamped repeatedly with her boot on Friedrichs' head, who was clinging to her other leg. Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron labelled it 'thuggery' after viewing the replay and had no hesitation in delivering a straight red card to the three-time Olympian. '12 blue (Kelter) is going to receive a permanent red card because this is thuggery, it is deliberate and it is very dangerous foul play,' the referee was heard saying on the microphone. 'She's clearly stamped on the head of the Australian player. That's reckless, that's dangerous and she's going off.' Aware of Caslick's ball-playing ability, Australia coach Jo Yapp said there was no long-term plans to keep the Olympic champion on the wing. 'It's no secret we lost two of our wingers ... if you watch Charlotte she's going to learn best by being on the field,' Yapp said. 'We saw that in the first half today and she's been working incredibly hard and it was great to see.' The Wallaroos began their Test campaign with a big win in Fiji but Saturday night's victory was Australia's first in the Pacific Four competition after a loss to New Zealand last week. They'll play Canada in Brisbane next Friday. Following the victory, USA boss Sione Fukofuka said his side would be taking a lot from the game, despite suffering defeat. 'We will take a lot out of today, both in our performance and on what we can do better. We planned pretty heavily for this game and unfortunately, didn't execute where the moments counted. We weren't able to convert possession into opportunities to score, so that's now our work on,' Fukofuka said. "We're 100 days away (from the Rugby World Cup) and still have a few more test matches to come, so we will focus on playing to our strengths. 'Our forwards pack is quite physical, dynamic, and has a huge variety of skill, which allows them to play to Hope, to play to Rachel, to play to Kate, which is positive. 'We were hoping to turn that set piece battle into more of an arm wrestle, which started pretty positive, but we just weren't able to finish the job.'
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
NZ and Canada tie thriller in Pacific Four series
New Zealand and Canada tied 27-27 in a thrilling second round of the Pacific Four series in Christchurch. Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who scored two tries on her debut in last week's opening match against Australia, began the scoring for the world champion Black Ferns in the sixth champions Canada responded almost immediately through DaLeaka Menin's converted try and the teams were level at 12-12 at half-time. The scoring continued to fluctuate after the break, with Ayesha Leti-l'iga adding her second try for New Zealand before Alysha Corrigan and Olivia Apps touched down for Canada. Shoshanah Seumanutafa then gave Canada a 27-22 lead after 77 minutes but Julia Schell missed the conversion, allowing Sylvia Brunt's 83rd-minute try for the Black Ferns to level the scores. But Ruahei Demant also missed her kick to squander New Zealand's last-gasp winning opportunity. In Canberra, Australia comfortably beat USA 27-19 to get their first win of the series. Hope Rogers scored all three of USA's tries, including the opener, but scores from Eva Karpani, Ashley Masters and Charlotte Caslick saw Australia pull ahead 19-14 at added her second shortly after half-time and the Wallaroos held on for victory. The series concludes with Australia facing Canada on Friday 23 May and New Zealand taking on USA the following teams are preparing for the World Cup in England which starts on 22 August, when New Zealand will aim to claim a third straight title.
