The USA The Women’s Eagles are currently on a four-game winning streak. If they lose Italy for the second time in two weeks, they will win five consecutive games for the first time since the women Rugby World Cup in 2006
Five seems to be the magic number in the Eagles camp. What was once cautiously whispered, is now confidently spoken by coaches and players. They want, or even better, expect to become the best team in the world.
“We talked about it as a group, and we talked about our ability to do it,” veteran No. 8 Kate Zackary said. RugbyPass ahead of the Eagles’ showdown against Italy in Nashville. “For years we’ve struggled to live up to the ‘sleeping giant’ label, but we’ve found some momentum this year.”
Zackary has been strong for the US since debuting against France In 2016, she played in three Rugby World Cups and one Rugby World Cup.
She knows what it takes to compete with the best and is beginning to see something in this coaching group and group of players that has convinced her that the USA can rise to new heights.
After beating Italy 36-27 in their first home game WXV Global Series game, Zackary was really pleased with the confidence the team played with.
“We’ve struggled with this in the past,” she admitted, but noted, “we have a lot of confidence in all of our players, which is amazing. In the first half, we built confidence based on Ireland win. We let Italy back into the game in the second half, but what you saw was a more confident response.”
There is still room for improvement. In the final 30 minutes against the Azzurri, the Eagles managed just three points and were under pressure from Italy’s relentless attack.
“We were still trying to play loose and we were too excited with the ball,” Zackary said. “The coach’s messages were to go back to basics – to regain momentum through physicality. The best teams in rugby know when to play with physicality and momentum.”
Still, Zackary is confident the team is headed in the right direction. With five wins from eight test matches since Jack Hanratty was appointed coach in December 2025, the team is on an upward trend. There is a strong mix of experienced players and exciting youngsters. But perhaps most importantly, there is a new mentality and belief within the group.
Captain Georgie Perris-Reading was the star of the show as the Eagles outclassed the Italians in Texas. The 29-year-old winger scored a hat-trick of tries as she led the team to victory.
Before the game, she also acknowledged the change that had taken place since Hanratty took over.
“The (2025) World Cup was really difficult for a number of reasons,” Perris-Reading said. “But when Jack first came in, he talked to every single player in the team. That was enough for those players who were thinking about not coming back to give the new set-up a chance.”
Now the team plays with confidence, building game by game with the ultimate goal of becoming one of the best teams in the world and a challenge for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia and finally the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.
The results were improving along the way. Despite early defeats to the Black Ferns and Canada, there was a marked improvement with wins in Pretoria, Dublin and Cardiff, and a home win against the Wallaroos in the Pacific Four series.
Ahead of last week’s match against Italy, Hanratty said: “We want to make it difficult to beat the Eagles.”
The team’s fitness levels have been a big focus under Hanratty, who has instituted “supplementary conditioning” and had his players train with the USA’s seven-star bronze medals.
Hanratty is happy to see that since April the number of offloads in the team has increased and that they are leading to attempts from mauls and creating set-piece opportunities.
Perris-Reading has even noticed a change in the way her teammates talk about the game.
“We talk a lot about rugby IQ now. It’s not something we’ve done much in the last four years. Over the last few weeks I’ve been impressed with the ability of this group to implement change. That’s something that makes this team elite.”
While the Eagles are not taking the rematch with Italy for granted, their biggest test will come on Halloween weekend against reigning world champions England. Despite their recent setback against Canada, the Red Roses remain the benchmark in women’s rugby and will pose a formidable challenge to the Women’s Eagles in New Jersey.
Neither Perris-Reading, who grew up in Manchester and plays for Sale Sharks, nor Zackary shy away from the English challenge. Zackary acknowledged that the team will have to find ways to deal with England’s versatile hitting game and their strong sets, but pointed out that those are some of the Eagles’ strengths.
Ahead of the first game against Italy, coach Hanrraty noted that the best rugby teams must find ways to deal with strong opposition sides. He will no doubt carry that mentality into the final game of the international season.
As he said, “If we want to be among the top five teams in the world, we have to be able to match their best.”
A home win against the best in the world would be “huge”.
“I want to win it,” Zackary said RugbyPass. “I want to win it in America, for America, but I don’t want to lose sight of those little victories (in the game).
With everything to play for to close out the 2026 season, the Lady Eagles look to build on their momentum, continue to give valuable minutes to rising stars like halfback Bella Vogel and prove they can compete with the best in the world.
There is a belief within the group that they can take a big step forward. As Perris-Reading exclaimed, “There’s something really, really special about this group of girls.”
