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Latest News
Rugby World Cup 2021 Draw

RWC 2021

Tue 2 March, 2021

Rugby World Cup 2021 statement

World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year.
Springbok Women

RWC 2021

Tue 23 February, 2021

Springbok Women ready to step out of the shadows at Rugby World Cup 2021

South Africa’s new women’s rugby high performance manager Lynne Cantwell hopes Rugby World Cup 2021 will help inspire a new generation of players.
Kelly Brazier playing Hong Kong at RWC 2017

RWC 2021

Tue 23 February, 2021

Kelly Brazier “pumped” ahead of potential Olympic-Rugby World Cup double

We caught up with the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who is hoping to play at both Tokyo 2020 and New Zealand 2021.
Women's International: Spain v Scotland

Rugby World Cup 2021

Thu 18 February, 2021

Women’s Rugby Europe Championship: Spain ready to start their road to Rugby World Cup 2021

Las Leonas have a key game against Russia this weekend in Guadalajara in the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship, aiming to continue chasing their dream of qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2021.
Bella Milo playing for Valley

Women in Rugby

Wed 17 February, 2021

Bella Milo: Rugby World Cup 2021 could have huge impact on women’s rugby in Hong Kong and Pacific Islands

The Samoa fly-half talks to World Rugby about New Zealand 2021, coaching and how she hopes to “give back” to the game.
Latest Videos
WR-WC2021-Announcement
01:31 mins

RWC 2021

Tue 2 March, 2021

Alan Gilpin on Rugby World Cup 2021 recommendation

World Rugby Interim Chief Executive Alan Gilpin explains the recommendation to postpone Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand until next year.
WR awards thumb
1:36:38 mins

Awards

Mon 7 December, 2020

World Rugby Awards Special Edition - watch the whole show

Re-live the World Rugby Awards Special Edition and find out the winners of the Player, Try and Team of the Decade 2010-19 for both men and women, plus celebrate rugby's heroes of COVID-19.
Full Draw ceremony for Rugby World Cup 2021
27:21 mins

RWC 2021

Thu 19 November, 2020

Full Draw ceremony for Rugby World Cup 2021

Live show hosts and interviewers react post-draw
01:20 mins

Thu 19 November, 2020

Live show hosts and interviewers react post-draw

Live programme hosts Elma Smit and Ugo Monye spoke with New Zealand broadcasters and co-hosts Karl Tenana and Rikki Swannell after the draw.
Alycia Washington USA post-draw interview
03:04 mins

Thu 19 November, 2020

Alycia Washington USA post-draw interview

RWC 2021
Saturday 14 November, 2020

RWC 2021 Spotlight: USA

Presented By
We continue our countdown to the Rugby World Cup 2021 Draw by taking a look at the USA’s history in the tournament.
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The USA are one of only three teams to have tasted glory at a women’s Rugby World Cup. Having beaten England in the inaugural final at Cardiff Arms Park in 1991, the USA were losing finalists in both 1994 and 1998 at the hands of England and New Zealand respectively. A relatively lean 19 years followed until the Women’s Eagles returned to the semi-finals at RWC 2017.

We take a look back at the USA’s Rugby World Cup story.

RWC debut: 6 April, 1991 v the Netherlands at Pontypool Park, Pontypool

RWC appearances: Played 38 – Won 25, Drawn 0, Lost 13 – Points for 1,241, Points against 581 – Win ratio 66 per cent

Best finish: Champions, 1991

Qualification for RWC 2021: Fourth at RWC 2017

Most memorable match: The USA met England in the first inaugural Rugby World Cup final in Cardiff in 1991. Having conceded an early penalty try – the first points scored against them in the tournament — the Women’s Eagles put on a masterclass. Tries from Clare Godwin and Patty Connell, as well as seven points from the boot of fly-half Chris Harju, helped the team to a 19-6 win and a place in history (pictured).

Iconic moment: USA looked in danger of slipping out of the top four on the final day of pool play at Ireland 2017, as they trailed England late on. That was until Kris Thomas scored one of the tries of the tournament to secure a bonus point for her side. Starting inside her own half, Thomas beat Vicky Fleetwood and Danielle Waterman on her way to the line.

Low point: Having reached the first three Rugby World Cup finals, the USA opened their 2002 campaign with an 87-0 defeat of the Netherlands. However, that was as good as it got as they lost subsequent matches to France and Australia, finding themselves in the seventh-place final. That match was won – 23-5 against hosts, Spain – but seventh remains the team’s lowest finish in the tournament.

Iconic player: Patty Jervey. One of two American women to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, Jervey was the first player to appear at five Rugby World Cups. The winger, who was 42 when she played at RWC 2006 in Canada, twice scored five tries in a match.

Did you know? Amy Westerman scored at least a hat-trick in each of her first three Rugby World Cup appearances. Having scored six tries against Japan at RWC 1994, she followed up that effort with three against Ireland two days later. Her third tournament appearance came at RWC 1998, when she scored three tries and kicked two conversions against Russia. In total, Westerman scored 14 tries in just seven Rugby World Cup appearances.

Quote: “It’s crazy, but I remember very little of the final. Most of the snapshots in my brain are just that, snapshots that friends and family took and shared. But I do remember looking up at the scoreboard after the final whistle, seeing 19-6 and thinking ‘holy sh*t, we did it!” – Patty Jervey on the USA’s success in 1991.

Read more: Fiji – South Africa – Wales 

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