A quintet of Loughborough Lightning players – Alev Kelter, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody and Bulou Mataitoga – have been named in the USA’s starting squad to face England on Friday (22 August, kick-off: 7:30pm) at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
With over 40,000 tickets already sold, the Women’s Eagles will face off against the Red Roses in Pool A.
Lightning’s Sagapolu and Brody will make their first Rugby World Cup appearances, starting at tighthead prop and lock respectively. Kelter takes her place in the centres for the USA, with Mataitoga on the wing and prolific try-scorer Treder rounding out the Lightning contingent at hooker.
USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka, said: “Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England.
“We know they have big external expectations on them as world number 1 and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence, and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage.
“The team have worked hard to be here and earned their opportunity to represent the United States at the World Cup. Our intensive selection process, followed by the camps at St Mary’s and Loughborough University, have required the players to dig deep and work hard to make the team, so being here is a testament to that work ethic and commitment.
“Making it here has a level of satisfaction and excitement at the opportunity in front of us, but now we prepare to perform and earn results.”
USA Eagles vs Red Roses
Friday 22 August, 2025
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Kick-off: 7:30pm BST
15 Lotte Sharp
14 Emily Henrich
13 Ilona Maher
12 Alev Kelter (Loughborough Lightning)
11 Bulou Mataitoga (Loughborough Lightning)
10 McKenzie Hawkins
9 Olivia Oritz
1 Hope Rogers
2 Kathryn Treder (Loughborough Lightning)
3 Keia Mae Sagapolu (Loughborough Lightning)
4 Tahlia Brody (Loughborough Lightning)
5 Erica Jarrell-Searcy
6 Kate Zackary (c)
7 Georgie Perris-Redding
8 Rachel Johnson
Replacements:
16 Paige Stathopoulos
17 Alivia Leatherman
18 Charli Jacoby
19 Rachel Ehrecke
20 Freda Tafuna
21 Cass Bargell
22 Kristin Bitter
23 Sariah Ibarra
Lightning’s Women’s Rugby World Cup stars will be back at Loughborough in time for the start of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign. Season Tickets are still available HERE, priced* from just £65 (adult) and £30 juniors.
*Season Ticket prices are subject to a booking fee of £2.50 per Season Ticket, plus £10 admin fee for Direct Debit.
