USA Women's coach Kathy Flores has made the difficult
task of cutting down her squad to 26 players for Women's Rugby
World Cup 2010, which kicks off in 50 days time in England.
Flores,
who tasted World Cup glory herself as a player in
1991, has also named four reserves who will join the squad for a
three-week residency camp from 10 July at Bowdoin College in
Brunswick, Maine.
"It is never an easy task to trim down a squad we have
been working with for almost four years," said admitted
Flores, who guided USA to fifth in the 2006 World Cup in Canada.
"With the 2010 World Cup less than two months away, we
are working to prepare for every variable possible and select
according to the needs of the team, in regards to the commitment
and dedication of each individual and their contribution to the
squad."
The Women's Eagles will arrive in camp just under a month
after losing a two-test series to neighbours Canada and the squad
features a number of players with past World Cup experience,
including forwards Jamie Burke and Phaidra Knight as well as Ashley
English in the backline.
The residency camp will focus a lot on individual and unit
skill work, along with strength and conditioning sessions, video
analysis and creating game plans for the World Cup.
Flores will also bring in skill specialists, sports
psychologists, nutritionists and select media personnel to work
with the squad as they prepare for the premier tournament in the
Women's Game.
The squad will also take time out of their preparations to
host an Under 19 clinic for new players on 12 July before playing a
Northeast Rugby Union All-Star Women's Team in a final warm up
match on 25 July.
USA will open their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign
against Kazakhstan on 20 August before facing Ireland and Six
Nations Grand Slam winners England in their remaining Pool B
matches.
"We don't have the luxury to look past any team at
the Women's Rugby World Cup," added Flores. "While we
were playing Canada in June, Kazakhstan played close matches with
South Africa.
"Ireland is lining up practice competition in the coming
month and I am sure England will be training and lining up practice
matches as well. No team is taking anything for granted in this
event."
USA Women's squad:
Forwards: Sharon Blaney (Beantown), Stacey Bridges (Texas
A&M), Jamie Burke (Beantown), Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues),
Melanie Denham (Beantown), Farrah Douglas (Keystone), Blair
Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues), Phaidra Knight (New York), Jillion
Potter (Minnesota Valkyries), Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union),
Lara Vivolo (New York), Kittery Wagner (Beantown), Maurin Wallace
(Beantown), Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries).
Backs: Claudia Braymer (Albany), Emilie Bydwell (Beantown),
Amy Daniels (Beantown), Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues),
Victoria Folayan (Berkeley All-Blues), Melissa Kanuk (Minnesota
Valkyries), Ashley Kmiecik (Oregon Sports Union), Lynelle Kugler
(Twin Cities Amazons), Kim Magrini (Keystone), Nathalie Marchino
(Berkeley All-Blues), Vanesha McGee (New York), Christy Ringgenberg
(Minnesota Valkyries).
Reserves: Stephanie Bruce (Berkeley All-Blues), Kate Daley
(Keystone), Naima Reddick (Berkeley All-Blues), Hannah Stolba
(Minnesota Valkyries).