4.26.08 - BOULDER, Colo. - The Women's National Team wrapped up its first 2008 Elite Training Camp in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, April 23. Forty-three athletes attended the five-day camp, which emphasized positional skills for the forwards and backs and even allowed time for a meeting with former first daughter Chelsea Clinton.

While training at a local YMCA on Sunday, it was arranged for the team to meet and present a USA game jersey to Clinton, who was also at the facility for a town hall meeting during the buildup to the Pennsylvania Democratic primaries on Tuesday, April 22.

"The town hall meeting was packed and the crowd's enthusiasm was obvious. Camp captain Ashley English thanked Chelsea and presented her with the signed jersey from the whole team," said USA Women's National Team Manager Annemarie Farrell. "Chelsea accepted the jersey and immediately put it on - it was very exciting for the team to be a part of the event."

Throughout the weekend, athletes worked on overall conditioning and developed individual skills geared toward their respective positions with several national team coaches. The forwards were instructed on specific positional binding and scrum tactics with USA Scrum Coach Bill LeClerc and WNT Forwards Coach Alex Williams, while the backs worked through their attack patterns from the scrum with WNT Backs Coach Candi Orsini and Assistant Backs Coach Krista McFarren.

Leading up to a scrimmage match on Tuesday, the group also worked on lineouts and spent time with USA Rugby Defensive Specialist Peter Baggetta, focusing on increased communication and player decision making.

"Over the course of the camp we saw many players really starting to understand the necessity of practicing the skills of their position on their own. As we don't have many assemblies, every player needs to have their mechanical aspects down so we are not re-teaching at every event," Women's National Team Head Coach Kathy Flores said.

"For forwards, it's their body position in the scrum particularly - something a player can practice every day in front of a mirror. For the backs, it's understanding the importance of the agility work to make them as evasive and powerful in contact as possible."

Players at the Philadelphia camp:

1. Kristin Aliberto (Philadelphia)
2. Stacy Baker (Philadelphia)
3. Kristin Baja (New York)
4. Amber Benlian (NOVA)
5. Libby Berg (Minnesota Valkyries)
6. Kristin Bonomo (Beantown)
7. Jamie Burke (Berkeley All-Blues)
8. Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues)
9. Brenna Costello (Washington Furies)
10. Mel Denham (Beantown)
11. Liz Dilley (Washington)
12. Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore)
13. Carrie DuBray (New York)
14. Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues)
15. Ashley Groefsema (Boston)
16. Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues)
17. Allyson Hemstreet (Berkeley All-Blues)
18. Angela Heifort (MN Valkyries)
19. Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries)
20. Christina Hobson (Morris Pride)
21. Mel Kanuk (Maryland Stingers)
22. Phaidra Knight (New York)
23. Tess Kohanski (Syracuse University)
24. Lynelle Kugler (Glendale Raptors)
25. Kristy Lear (MN Valkyries)
26. Kim Magrini (Keystone)
27. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
28. Angela Marfisi (Philadelphia)
29. Desiree Markovich (MN Valkyries)
30. Vanesha McGee (Philadelphia)
31. San Juanita Moreno (ORSU)
32. Elise Myer (Maryland Stingers)
33. Tina Nesberg (Berkeley All-Blues)
34. Saburah Posner (Philadelphia)
35. Jillion Potter (MN Valkyries)
36. Naima Reddick (Berkeley All-Blues)
37. Beckett Royce (ORSU)
38. Jen Sinkler (Philadelphia)
39. Lara Vivolo (New York)
40. Sharyn Wacht (Beantown)
41. Mari Wallace (Berkeley All-Blues)
42. Sarah Walsh (Chicago North Shore)
43. Sheara Williamson (Philadelphia)

4.8.08 - After 2 big tournament wins in San Diego and Hong Kong, the US Women's National Sevens team will travel to the Heineken Amsterdam 7s tournament May 17-18 in Amsterdam, Holland. The tournament is expected to be a strong tournament, with European champions England and other quality national and invitational teams, including perennial powerhouse, Aotearoa Maori competing.

Aotearoa Maori coach Peter Joseph said about Amsterdam 7s, "many of these teams are already preparing for next years' World Cup. It should be one of the strongest women's 7's tournaments and will be both a tremendous experience and a wonderful challenge for us."

US Women's National Team - Amsterdam Squad

1. Tyshawn Henry
2. Phaidra Knight
3. Lindsey Stephenson
4. Jo Anne Ward
5. Stacy Bennett
6. Teena Mastrangelo
7. Ines Rodriguez
8. Christy Ringgenberg
9. Ellie Karvoski
10. Melissa McKibben
11. Jennifer Starkey
12. Jess Watkins

Staff:
Head Coach: Julie McCoy
Asst Coaches: Chris Ryan, Drew Fautley
Manager: Sadeana Green
Physio: Michael Moses

More about the Women Eagle Sevens Program
View the US Women's 7s Amsterdam Squad and staff.

3.28.08 - Hong Kong - From USARugby.org
The USA Women's Sevens Team went unbeaten in Hong Kong, defeating Canada 21-7 in the final before a crowd of nearly 40,000 to win the Women's Hong Kong Sevens Tournament on March 28.

In a rematch of the San Diego International Women's 7s Final, the USA Women again met Canada in the championship, with the game beginning in similar fashion. The USA gave up an early try to its cross-border rivals, but quickly turned up the intensity defensively to put down the Canada attack and control the field from then on.

The Women's Eagles came thundering back to score three unanswered tries and bring the final tally to 21-7, with Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago North Shore), Alison Price (New York) and Amy Daniels (Beantown) each contributing one and Pam Kosanke (Chicago Northshore) successfully booting all three conversions.

"I am ecstatic for myself and my teammates. It is the first time that any team other than New Zealand has won the Cup, but it means so much to us along the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai next year," said the USA's Tyshawn Henry, following the victory. "It is an amazing experience being here in Hong Kong and to play in a packed stadium. Hopefully this will be the first of many opportunities to play in the world's biggest rugby stadiums.

"Anything can happen on any given day and we are very much taking it one tournament at a time. However, with the San Diego and Hong Kong titles under our belt this year we can keep on building and possibly lift World Cup next year."

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Women faced a stern test against France in the semifinals. After a hard fought battle between the contrasting sides, the first half ended in a 0-0 deadlock. However, in the second half, the USA was able to muscle out a 5-0 victory, with Ellie Karvoski (Little Rock RFC) darting in for a try with a minute left.

View the US Women's 7s Hong Kong Squad and staff.

Watch as Amy Daniels takes in a try against Canada in the final match:

The Women Eagles celebrate their championship:

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Wallaro 7s To Make History
Australia's women will break new ground this year by fielding a national Sevens side at the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Samoa on 25-26 July. Read more from the IRB.