USA ‘will be a team who could beat England’ by World Cup 2025

USA captain Kate Zackary is confident the Women’s Eagles will be a team who "could beat England” by the time Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off in Sunderland next year.

The two teams are scheduled to meet in the opening match of the showpiece tournament at the Stadium of Light on August 22, 2025 in what will be a repeat of the 1991 and 1994 World Cup finals.

USA won the first of those, at Cardiff Arms Park in April 1991, but have not beaten the Red Roses in 21 attempts since and lost 61-21 when the sides faced each other during WXV 1 in Vancouver at the end of September.

That defeat was one of three the Women’s Eagles suffered on their WXV 1 debut. But while Zackary admits her side endured a frustrating time in Canada – having been in the contest for an hour against England before running both France and Ireland close – she is convinced they are a team on the rise.

“There’s a lot of pressure on their side as the host nation, but on the other side it means we get to play in the opening game,” Zackary told RugbyPass.

“Somebody told me the capacity of [the Stadium of Light] is like 46,000 or something and if that stadium fills up, it will be one of the biggest games we’ve ever played in.

“So, it’s exciting and I think it’s something that will keep me motivated. Obviously, [I will] stay focused on the here and now to make sure you get the opportunity to be in that jersey.

“It will be a massive opportunity for individuals as well as USA Rugby to just be on the world stage to compete with England. By that time, I think we’ll be a team who could beat England as well.”

Despite failing to register a victory at WXV 1, qualifying for the top level represented a successful first year in the job for head coach Sione Fukofuka.

The pool of players at his disposal looks set to swell ahead of next year’s World Cup, too, with Ilona Maher headlining a stellar list of sevens players putting their hands up for inclusion.

Maher completed a short-term move to Bristol Bears earlier this month and could come face-to-face with fellow Olympic bronze medallist Alev Kelter, who plays for Loughborough Lightning, as well as Trailfinders captain Zackary and a host of familiar faces in Premiership Women’s Rugby.

“It is exciting to see a country like the US bringing in sevens players who’ve seen success,” Zackary said.

“I was a sevens player at the 2017 World Cup, and I was a person who came in as a transition player going to a 15s World Cup.

“I know what it feels like, and I do know what it can do to a team. It does provide a different viewpoint… different strengths and different strategies.

“So, I’m excited to have people like Ilona coming over, we’ve got Alev Kelter coming back, Kris Thomas was in the mix (during WXV 1), Cheta Emba. We’ve got a few other sevens players who have put their hands up and want to be involved.”

Following their opening match against England in Sunderland next year, USA will play Australia and Samoa in York on August 30 and September 6, respectively.

The 2025 World Cup is already assured to be the best attended women’s edition yet, with more than 220,000 tickets sold during the initial release and application phases.

Tickets are next due to go on sale in February. You can register your interest and find out more information here.