The United States men's national rugby union team represents the United States in men's international rugby union. Nicknamed the Eagles, it is controlled by USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. USA Rugby is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having defeated the one other competitor in 1920 and the two other competitors at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in men's international rugby union competitions and is governed by Rugby Canada. Canada is classified by World Rugby as a tier two rugby nation and has competed in competitions such as the Americas Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. Canada traditionally plays in red and white.
The New Zealand women's rugby union team, called the Black Ferns, represents New Zealand in women's international rugby union, which is regarded as the country's national sport. The team has won six out of nine Women's Rugby World Cup tournaments.
Rugby union in the United States is played at youth, high school, college, amateur, professional, and international levels and governed by USA Rugby. There were over 125,000 players registered with USA Rugby as of 2016. Over 2,500 rugby union clubs exist around the country, including those who are part of college rugby. Professional club competition has existed as Major League Rugby (MLR) since 2017.
The 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup was the first Women's Rugby World Cup. The tournament was not approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB), yet it still went ahead despite the disapproval of the sports governing body. France confirmed their participation only minutes before the draw was made on 26 February. Representatives of the IRB, WRFU and RFU attended the final, but it was not until 2009 that the IRB officially endorsed the event as a "world cup" when it published, for the first time, a list of previous winners in a press release.
The USA Women's National Team XVs is the senior national team for the United States in the 15-a-side version of rugby. The team was officially formed in 1987 and is nicknamed the Eagles.
The Canada women's national rugby union team is governed by Rugby Canada, and plays in red and black. They were ranked 5th in World Rugby's inaugural women's rankings and are currently ranked as the third best team in the world. Canada competes in competitions such as the Pacific Four Series and the Rugby World Cup.
The Soviet Union women's national rugby union team were the women's national rugby union team of the Soviet Union. They played six matches between 1990 and 1991, losing them all. The team was severely underfunded, surviving the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup by bartering and selling items of kit and other artefacts such as vodka. They ceased playing after 1991, because of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The United States national rugby union team has played in all but one Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. The USA is the second strongest national rugby side in North America, and the third strongest in the Americas after Argentina and Canada.
Tam Breckenridge is an American female former rugby union player. She represented the United States at the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup held in Wales. They were crowned champions after defeating England 19–6 in the final. Breckenridge and her 1991 World Cup teammates were inducted into the United States Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017.
Mary Gail Sullivan is a former American rugby union player. She captained the United States at the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup held in Wales.
Cassandra (Cassie) Law is a former American women's rugby union player. She was a member of the United States championship team that won the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Cardiff, Wales.
Hope Rogers is an American rugby union player who plays for Exeter Chiefs in the Allianz Premier 15s. She has competed for the Eagles in three consecutive Rugby World Cup's, at the 2014, 2017 and the delayed 2021 tournament.
Patty Connell is an American former rugby union player. She played for the United States at the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. Connell scored a try in the United States 19–6 victory over England in the 1991 Final. She also featured at the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Barb Fugate is an American rugby union player and coach. She coached the US national development team. She was named to the US Rugby hall of fame.
Chris Harju is a former American rugby union player.
Annie Flavin is a former American rugby union player. She was a part of the United States championship team that won the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup after defeating England in the final. She was also selected for the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup squad that competed in Scotland.
Claire Godwin is a former American rugby union player. She was a member of the United States squad that won the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales.
Tracy Moens is a former American rugby union player. She was a part of the United States squad that won the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales.
Morgan Whitehead is a former American rugby union player. She was a member of the United States squad that won the inaugural 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. She played in the final against England, Eagles coach Kevin O'Brien opted for a more mobile back-row of Claire Godwin, Whitehead and Kathy Flores.
