USA National Teams log massive weekend with two medals and seven individual benchmarks in rugby

USA Rugby.org today reported their National teams recorded a massive weekend in international rugby with ten achievements across three national teams in sevens and fifteens.

From Thursday, Jan 31 to Sunday, Feb 3 the US .w.on two medals in rugby sevens, sealed a 71-8 road victory against Chile in rugby fifteens and saw seven players claim individual benchmarks on the world stage. 

In the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series — serving as the main route for qualification to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 — Team USA’s Men’s and Women’s Eagles Sevens both finished on the podium.

Historic Win

The Men’s Sevens made history by winning their fourth straight Silver medal at the HSBC Sydney Sevens tournament and are now the only men’s team to have medaled at every competition this season. USA remains tied at No. 1 in the world with 2018 World Cup Champions New Zealand.

Team USA’s men have now maintained a No. 1 ranking all season, having never reached or maintained such a high position in previous years.

2016 Olympians Folau Niua (of Rugby NorCal pedigree East Palo Also Razorbacks)  and Carlin Isles set their own unique marks with Niua becoming USA’s most capped sevens player at 63 tournaments and Isles surpassing 150 career tries.

Dream Team

In total, two Men’s Sevens players made the coveted tournament Dream Team in 2016 Olympic. Captain Madison Hughes and Stephen Tomasin.

Five USA Rugby sevens players have made the Dream Team in the last two competitions.

Women’s Eagles Sevens

On the women’s side, Team USA won a Bronze medal at the same HSBC Sydney Sevens tournament, tying their record for most medals won in a single-season. The women are now ranked No. 2 in the world with only three tournaments remaining in their Olympic qualifying year.

USA player Naya Tapper set a record of her own when she scored her 65th try and passed 2016 Olympian Victoria Folayan as the Women’s Eagles Sevens all-time leading try scorer.

New player Kristi Kirshe also shattered expectations, scoring five tries in her first tournament with the national team. Previously a star soccer player at Williams College, Kirshe has been playing rugby for less than a year.

U.S. Men’s National Team Fifteens

While USA’s rugby sevens teams currently sit at No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, the U.S. Men’s National Team in fifteens opened their World Cup year with a smashing result.

On Saturday, in the Americas Rugby Championship 2019, the Men’s Eagles defeated Chile 71-8 on the road to open their quest for a third straight title in the biggest rugby fifteens tournament in North America.

The Eagles scored 11 tries in the game and are currently ranked a record-high No. 12 in the world.

The ARC tournament serves as critical preparation for Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 kicking off this September. On the men’s side, Rugby World Cup is the third-largest single-sporting event in the world.

In the match, USA player Joe Taufete’e tied the international world record for most tries scored of any player in his position (hooker). Taufete’e is now one try away from breaking the record (15 tries) currently shared with veteran Irish player Keith Wood.

Where Wood set the mark in 63 appearances with Ireland’s National Team, Taufete’e has matched it in only 20 appearances with USA. The athlete is 26 years old and began playing rugby at 18.

Follow @USARugby on social media or visit usarugby.org for national team news and schedules.

Play Rugby: Rugby NorCal was established in 2011 and is one of the largest state run rugby organizations (SROs) in the country. RNC serves approximately 5,000 members – youth and high school age.

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