Rob Cain has announced the names of 51 players who will form a USA Performance Squad to undertake two major training sessions in preparation for the World Cup.
The two training blocks run from March 13 to May 2 for the whole squad, then from May 31 to July 21 for a select 40. Allowance has been made for players operating in the Allianz Premier 15s (6) and in the USA 7s squad (7).
Like so many competing nations, their biggest obstacle has been the lack of real rugby. Hence the need for really extended programs.
The most telling detail concerns the days preceding RWC kick-off. Players will have to conform to the 14 days of quarantine, then it is planned to arrange fixtures to aid match-readiness. The time-span of those games can only be guessed at, but it adds to everyone’s absence from their normal way of life, work or study. As usual Rugby USA has requests for donations prominently displayed.
The RWC authorities will have to bear in mind the privations caused by quarantine, isolation and bubbles. Only one person suffering their effects would upset the even flow of the competition.
The potential costs and commitment of the enterprise rise and rise.
USA Women’s XVs National Team Performance Squad
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB | XVs CAPS |
| Cassidy Bargell | Scrumhalf | Harvard University | uncapped |
| Catie Benson | Prop | Life West Gladiatrix | 23 |
| Meya Bizer | Center | USA Sevens | 18 |
| Stacey Bridges | Lock | Beantown Rugby | 40 |
| Elizabeth Cairns | Flanker | Life West Gladiatrix | 11 |
| Kayla Canett-Oca | Full Back | USA Sevens | 7 |
| Gabby Cantorna | Flyhalf | Exeter Chiefs | 8 |
| Jennine Duncan | Wing | Exeter Chiefs | 7 |
| Rachel Ehrecke | Back Row | Colorado Gray Wolves | uncapped |
| Nana Fa’avesi | Center | USA Sevens | 2 |
| Tess Feury | Wing | New York Rugby | 6 |
| Megan Foster | Flyhalf | San Diego Surfers | 5 |
| Saher Hamdan | Hooker | Life University | uncapped |
| Fane “Eti” Haungatau | Center | Lindenwood | 3 |
| McKenzie Hawkins | Flyhalf | Colorado Gray Wolves | 3 |
| Jett Hayward | Hooker | Life West Gladiatrix | uncapped |
| Emily Henrich | Center | Dartmouth Rugby | 8 |
| Mata Hingano | Center | Life West Gladiatrix | uncapped |
| Leti Hingano | Back Three | Life West Gladiatrix | 2 |
| Katana Howard | Flyhalf | Twin City Amazons | 4 |
| Charli Jacoby | Prop | Chicago North Shore | 6 |
| Nick James | Prop | Houston Athletic | 12 |
| Erica Jarrell | Second Row | Harvard University | uncapped |
| Rachel Johnson | Flanker | Exeter Chiefs | 7 |
| Kathryn Johnson | No. 8 | Twin City Amazons | 2 |
| Layla Alev Kelter | Center | USA Sevens | 13 |
| Kristi Kirshe | Back Three | USA Sevens | uncapped |
| Joanna Kitlinski | Hooker | Exeter Chiefs | 14 |
| Jenny Kronish | Lock | Colorado Gray Wolves | uncapped |
| Kayla Lawson | Wing | San Diego Surfers | uncapped |
| Maya Learned | Prop | Colorado Gray Wolves | 2 |
| Sarah Levy | Back Three | New York Rugby | 2 |
| Shelby Lin | Scrumhalf | Berkeley All Blues | uncapped |
| Sam Luther | Second Row | Colorado Gray Wolves | uncapped |
| Ilona Maher | Back Three | USA Sevens | uncapped |
| Bulou Mataitoga | Fullback | Berkeley All Blues | 3 |
| Jordan Matyas | No. 8 | USA Sevens | 18 |
| Olivia Ortiz | Scrumhalf | Davenport & Chicago North Shore | 5 |
| Jetta Owens | Back Three | Virginia Tech | uncapped |
| Neariah Persinger | Wing | Life West Gladiatrix | 1 |
| Hope Rogers-Dellerman | Prop | Life West Gladiatrix | 29 |
| Kristine Sommer | Lock | Harlequins Rfc | 13 |
| Nicole Strasko | Flanker | Life West Gladiatrix | 7 |
| Amy Talei Bonte | Center | Life West Gladiatrix | 6 |
| Samantha Tancredi | Prop | Lindenwood | uncapped |
| Hallie Taufoou | Back Row | ARPTC | uncapped |
| Kristen Thomas | Wing | USA Sevens | 11 |
| Kathryn Treder | Hooker | Beantown Rugby | 2 |
| Alycia Washington | Lock | New York Rugby | 22 |
| Carly Waters | Scrumhalf | Colorado Gray Wolves | 4 |
| Kate Zackary | Flanker | Exeter Chiefs | 15 |
