Kate Zachary runs down the field in the USA vs. New Zealand match at the Atlanta Sevens Cup Final on March 15, 2015 in Atlanta.
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A historic moment for the USA Women’s Eagles Sevens will arrive Saturday at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto when the team faces Brazil in its opening match at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
The Pan American Games is including women’s rugby sevens for the first time. Men’s rugby sevens debuted at the 2011 Pan Am Games. The sport for men and women will make its Olympic debut a year from now at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
The United States will play Brazil, Colombia and Argentina on Saturday, followed by matches against Mexico and host Canada on Sunday. Round-robin play will be followed by a single knockout match.
“Canada is Canada,” U.S. coach Ric Suggitt said. “They’re the No. 2 team in the world. They’re a pretty solid bunch. It’s going to be a good tournament.”
The U.S. women are coming off a strong season in which they qualified for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games by routing Mexico 88-0 in the final of the NACRA Sevens Championships in June in Cary, North Carolina.
Eight of the 12 women on the roster were on the team for the final leg of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Amsterdam.
The USA Men’s Eagles Sevens squad, which won a bronze medal at the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games, also begins play Saturday. The Olympic-bound Eagles will face Chile, Mexico and Uruguay on Saturday, followed by the knockout rounds Sunday.
Because some of the national team players are currently preparing for the Pacific Nations Cup, the Eagles will be without Danny Barrett, Andrew Durutalo, Folau Niua and Zack Test.
“This is an opportunity for some of the guys who have been an integral part of the squad to put their hands up and challenge for a place on the (Sevens World) Series next season,” coach Mike Friday said. “The Pan Am Games is a unique experience but also a competitive one where players will have to perform under the pressures of competition as opposed to the training environment.”
The Eagles qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in June by winning the NACRA Sevens Championships.
Paul D. Bowker is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.