USA Women's U20s secure dominant two-game sweep in South Africa
By Sydney HarmonThe USA Women’s U20s completed a dominant two-game sweep against the Springbok Women Under 20s during a recent tour in South Africa, marking a significant step in the development pathway for American rugby talent. Head Coach Katie Dowty expressed considerable satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting the groundwork laid for future Women’s Rugby World Cup cycles.
The squad's fortnight at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport culminated in two convincing victories. The Eagles first secured a 47-12 win, followed by an even more decisive 60-17 triumph, demonstrating a clear superiority over their South African counterparts. These results build on a split two-game Test series between the senior Springbok Women and USA Women’s Eagles earlier in July, where each team claimed a victory.
USA Rugby
@USARugbyUSA Women's U20s took home 2 wins from their South Africa Tour
Jul 29, 2026View on X
Hubbell leads charge with MVP performance
In the opening fixture, Alyssa Hine and Madelyn Hubbell each scored two tries as the USA crossed the whitewash seven times. A week later, Hubbell delivered an outstanding performance, securing a hat-trick of tries in the 60-17 victory. Her consistent impact led to the Harvard University back-rower being named the tour’s most valuable player by USA Rugby.
The first match at Markotter Field saw the USA control proceedings effectively. Try scorers included Alyssa Hine, Seq’hiya "Pip" Simmons, Madelyn Hubbell, Arielle Fotso, and Kiyanah Edwards, with Annie Henrick converting six of the tries. The team's offensive prowess was evident through 26 offloads and effective exploitation of six penalties, allowing their vibrant, attacking rugby to shine.
The second game presented a different challenge, as the Springboks made several changes to their starting lineup. Although South Africa took an early lead after six minutes, the USA quickly responded with tries from Bella Vofel, Kiyanah Edwards, and Hubbell’s hat-trick, effectively deciding the contest by halftime. Beyond their scoring, the team also displayed defensive fortitude, making 190 tackles and securing two breakdown steals.
Building for future World Cups
Coach Dowty emphasized the tour's strategic importance, viewing it as a foundational experience for players who will be in their prime for the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. She noted the team's commitment to developing a distinctive American style of rugby, characterized by dynamic, fast, skilled play and high rugby IQ. Dowty expressed particular satisfaction with how the team capitalized on momentum in the first game, a historical area of development for American teams.
“We framed the whole tour around them aspiring to play the unique American style of rugby that will help us to challenge and win a World Cup in 2033,” Dowty stated, acknowledging the players' buy-in to this vision. She further highlighted the squad's ability to demonstrate a "dynamic, fast, skilled, high IQ brand of rugby" that represents their potential.
The U20s' success in South Africa provides encouraging signs for the trajectory of American rugby coverage, particularly as the sport looks toward future World Cup cycles. The team's ability to convert go-forward and post-contact meters into a variety of scoring opportunities pleased Dowty, who believes this group is adept at adapting their attack. Their performance, particularly their dominant wins and the emergence of talents like Hubbell, suggests a promising future for the senior Women's Eagles as they prepare for major international tournaments.