2014 SCHEDULE/RESULTS USA vs IRELAND Friday, August 1, 2014 | 11:00 a.m. EST April 15 Canada1 L, 51-7 2014 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup 19 Canada1 L, 14-10 Marcoussis, France June 28 Wales2 W, 10-7 ON THE PITCH (QUICK HITS) July • The Women’s Eagles have been paired • The Eagles last played in France during (EX)2 2 England N/A with Ireland, Kazakhstan, and New Zealand their 2012 European Tour. The tour included 6 England2 L, 17-13 in Pool B for the IRB Women’s Rugby World two matches against France, which followed August Cup 2014. Pool play matches will take place a test with Italy. Matches against Les Bleus 1 Ireland3 11 a.m. Aug. 1, 5, and 9, respectively. were held in Orleans and Paris. 5 Kazakhstan3 7 a.m. 9 New Zealand3 Noon • The Eagles and Ireland met twice during • The 2014 World Cup is the seventh such 13 TBD3 TBD the 2010 World Cup, splitting the series. tournament for the women’s game. The 3 Ireland claimed the match during pool play, Eagles won the inaugural Women’s Rugby 17 TBD TBD with the Eagles besting the Irish during the World Cup in 1991 and have reached the Fi- fifth-eighth-place semifinal. [MORE on Page nal twice since then, but could not replicate 1 – CanAm Tour (British Columbia, Canad) 2] the earlier performance. 2 – United Kingdom Tour (Wales and England) 3 – Women’s Rugby World Cup (Paris, France) • Vanesha McGee was able to score a try • Jamie Burke will earn her 47th cap with a EX - Non-test match during the last meeting against the Irish. start at prop against Ireland. On the op- * All times are Eastern (EST) The wing helped boost the Eagles to a 40-3 posite side, Bui Baravilala will earn just her victory. third cap, starting at center. Burke is the GAMEDAY (INFO) most-capped player in Women’s Eagles • Nine players from the 2010 World Cup history. Television/Stream Universal Sports roster return for another shot at the World Cup trophy. {MORE ON PAGE 4] • Universal Sports will be covering the game Reports usarugby.org/womens-eagles live from Marcoussis with coverage begin- Twitter @USAWomenEagles • Pool play matches will be played at the ning at 10:30 A.M ET. French Rugby Headquarters in Marcoussis. Subsequent placement round matches will • The Eagles enter the World Cup following be played at Stade Jean Bouin, in Paris. its U.K. Tour (June 24-July 7). ABOUT IRELAND NEXT UP: Ireland enters the World Cup following a Ireland this season. 2014 - Aug. 5 vs Kazakhstan third-place finish in the 2014 RBS 6 Nations In addition to the five 6 Nations tests during Kickoff: 7:00 a.m. (EST) competition. Close losses to England and France the opening months of 2014, the Irish squared Venue: FFR Headquarters (Marcoussis) resulted in the final standing despite dominant off against Wales in July. The Irish claimed the Series: USA Leads, 1-0-0 performances against Scotland and Italy. match, 27-7, to close out World Cup prepara- Fullback Niamh Briggs has tallied points in tions. WOMEN’S EAGLES COMMUNICATIONS: every match during the 2014 campaign except Ireland has been successful in the previous Jonathan Swart - Press Officer for the Scotland match, for which she was a re- years, as well, capturing the 2013 RBS 6 Nations E-mail: [email protected] serve. In total, Briggs has amassed a team-lead- trophy and winning every match during the Website: usarugby.org/womens-eagles ing 31 points through six matches. year’s campaign. Twitter: @USAWomenEagles Tries have also been bountiful for Ireland in Against the Eagles, however, the Irish have the same time span. Alison Miller has claimed struggled. Overall, Ireland has won only one Chad Wise - Communications Coordinator four tries thus far with Sophie Spence, Heather match against the Americans. However, the lone E-mail: [email protected] O’Brien, and Lynne Cantwell adding three each. victory of the five match series did come during Phone: (303)539-0300 A total of 12 players have crossed the try line for the 2010 World Cup. [MORE on Page 2] WOMENS EAGLES | 1 | GAME NOTES 2014 USA WOMEN’S EAGLES NOTES AND EVENTS INSIDE THE GAME GAMEDAY STORIES - IRELAND LAST MEETING place in North America, as Canada hosted the year’s World Cup. Remaining unbeaten, Series History. USA leads 4-1-0 The sides met twice during the 2010 USA won, 24-11. First Meeting. Apr. 17, 1994: W, 76-0 Women’s Rugby World Cup, resulting in a The most recent meetings both took Last Meeting. .Sep. 1, 2010: W, 40-3 split. The split also meant the first Irish vic- tory over the Women’s Eagles. Ireland was place during the 2010 World Cup. During Last Meeting (non-WC). .Jan. 25, 2006: W, 23-5 pool play, Ireland held the Women’s Eagles At USA. N/A able to pip the US during pool play, 22-12. at bay to win the closest match of the At Ireland. .USA leads, 1-0-0 However, the Eagles were able to quickly series, 22-12. At Neutral. .USA leads, 3-1-0 avenge the loss, and in dominant fashion as well, claiming the fifth-eighth-place As both missed out reaching the final, semifinal, 40-3. the two met in the 5-8th place semifinal. In the latter contest, Vanesha McGee, Avenging the earlier loss, USA moved on, SERIES RESULTS who returns for the present match, was winning 40-3. Apr. 17, 1994^ W 76-0 N able to dot down a score. For Ireland, Jan. 25, 2006 W 23-5 A Niamh Briggs accounted for the only Irish RANKING ABOVE In the IRB standings, Ireland (5) ranks Sep. 4, 2006^ W 24-11 N points through a penalty goal – the fullback above the USA (18). Aug. 24, 2010^ L 22-12 N is also returning for the 2014 contest. Sep. 1, 2010^ W 40-3 N SCOUTING IRELAND PARIS RETURN The Women’s Eagles last played in Paris ^ - World Cup In the previous two years, Ireland has during its 2012 European Tour. Following won all but two matches. Capturing the the teams first ever contest against Italy, 2013 RBS 6 Nations title, the Irish have matches against the French were contested played near perfect rugby, with only tight in Orleans and Paris. The Women’s Eagles losses to England and France during the dropped both matches against France 2014 campaign. Falling by a score or less during the tour. each time, Ireland placed third for the most recent 6 Nations competition, which also UNLUCKY NUMBER 13 saw enormous victories over Scotland and Defensive minded Ireland is 2-70-1 when Italy. allowing 13 or more points in a match. The Fullback Niamh Briggs has led the Irish Women’s Eagles have scored 23 or more in scoring during 2014, amassing 31 total points in each win against Ireland. The Irish points through four matches. Briggs has held the US to 12 for its lone win of the notched a kicking point in each match she series. IRELAND: 2014 RESULTS has started. Wins when allowing more than 13 came However, the Irish are very diverse in Jan. 31 vs Scotland W, 59-0 in 1998 against Netherlands (21-18) and try-scorers. A total of 12 players have Feb. 7 vs Wales W, 14-6 2009 (35-17) against Italy. A lone draw scored tries in Irelands favor, with 7 regis- Feb. 22 at England L, 17-10 came in 2008 against France (22-22). tering multiple tries throughout the current Mar. 8 vs Italy W, 39-0 season. Alison Miller leads the way with ALL CAPS Mar. 14 at France L, 19-15 four tries. The wing is followed closely The most-capped player in Women’s by teammates Sophie Spence, Heather Eagles’ history, Jamie Burke, will have the O’Brien, and Lynne Cantwell, who have opportunity to earn her 47th cap during IRELAND: 2014 TOP PERFORMERS accounted for three tries each, respectively. the World Cup. Tries: SERIES REVIEW USA VS. WORLD CUP FIELD (ALL-TIME) Sophie Spence 3 vs Scotland Out of five contests, USA leads the Alison Miller 2 vs Scotland 20-year-old series at 4-1-0. Opponent Record 1st Last Lynne Cantwell vs Scotland Gill Bourke vs France The 1994 World Cup kicked off the Australia 4-0-0 1997 2006 Heather O’Brien 1 vs Scotland, Wales, Italy series, seeing the Women’s Eagles shutout Canada 17-13-0 1987 2014 Claire Molloy vs Scotland, Italy Ireland, 76-0. The meeting would also start England 1-12-0 1991 2013 4 Tied 1 the tradition of the two meeting in World France 2-5-1 1996 2013 Conversions: Cups. Ireland 4-1-0 1994 2010 Niamh Briggs 3 vs Italy Only once have the two squared off Kazakhstan 1-0-0 2010 2010 Nora Stapleton 1 vs Scotland, Italy against each other outside of the elite tour- New Zealand 1-6-0 1990 2004 Niamh Briggs 1 vs England, France nament. The second match of the series re- Samoa - - - Penalties: mains as the only match played on Irish soil South Africa 4-1-0 2009 2013 Niamh Briggs 3 vs Wales as well. The Women’s Eagles won the 2006, Spain 2-0-0 1998 2002 Niamh Briggs 2 vs Italy 23-5. Eight months later, a rematch took Wales 4-0-0 1993 2014 #WORKFORIT #FINALIN14 WOMENS EAGLES | 2 | GAME NOTES 2014 USA WOMEN’S EAGLES NOTES AND EVENTS LAST MATCH - RECAP GAME SUMMARY ENGLAND SELECTS HALT WOMEN’S EAGLES COMEBACK IN EXHIBITION SURREY, England – The Women’s Eagles finished a three-match tour of the United 1ST 2ND TOTAL Kingdom Sunday with a 17-13 loss to England at Surrey Sports Park.