The Pennsylvania center found rugby early and is nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year. In New Jersey, the Red Roses will present her stiffest Test yet

Going into their WXV Global Series game against England’s world champion Red Roses in Harrison, New Jersey, on Friday, the US Eagles women have five successive wins and a squad mixing great experience with great youth. Among potentially great younger players is the first American ever nominated for a major World Rugby award.

“I keep getting told like, ‘Oh, don’t let your head get too big,’” laughed Bella Vogel, the 19-year-old center or fly-half from Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, nominated for Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Still a student at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, she has had an extraordinary season.

USA v England and USA men v Australia XV will be broadcast in the US on Paramount Plus and in the UK on the England Rugby YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer.

Martin Pengelly writes about rugby in the US on Substack, at The National Maul.

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