CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard Women's Rugby is proud to announce three of their alumnae, Maya Learned '18, Jenny Kronish '19 and Erica Jarrell '21, will represent Team USA in the Rugby 15's World Cup. Along with Assistant coach Sylvia Braaten as Head of Strength and Conditioning. 

Learned ('18) played four seasons with the Glendale Raptors in high school where she won two state championships. Learned came to Harvard as a High School All-American and Junior All-American. At Harvard, Learned served as captain for both her junior and senior seasons. In 2017 she started in every 15 and 7's game and helped seal the Ivy 7's Championship with a penalty kick. In 2018, she made the NIRA All-America selection tram. Since competing for Harvard, Learned signed with Gloucester-Hartpury in England's Premier 15's league last year. This will be Learned's first World Cup experience.

Jenny Kronish ('19) joined Harvard's rugby team as a walk-on who had never played the sport before. In 2018 and 2019, Kronish earned NIRA All-America selection honors. After her graduation from Harvard, she became a USA Eagle and attended USA U23 camps in 2018-19 followed by a WPL Championship with the Glendale Merlins soon after. Last spring she signed with the Harlequins in England's Premier 15's league. This will be Kronish's first World Cup experience.

Kronish commented on making the World Cup roster saying, "representing USA at the World Cup is a dream realized - a dream I didn't even know existed. 6 years ago, I stepped on a rugby pitch for the first time. Soon after, my coaches and teammates instilled a sense of confidence in me that I had the potential to strive for the national team. I am proud to be a walk-on Harvard Rugby Alumna - that team truly has changed my life, and I know when I step foot on the pitch in New Zealand, I will be playing for all those women who elevated the level of the program before me. The idea of playing for more than yourself is embedded into the culture of rugby, and I would not be where I am now without Harvard."

The most recent graduate from Harvard, Erica Jarnell ('21) also walked on the team. Jarnell remained on the team for a fifth year after losing her original senior season due to COVID-19. In 2019 she became a NIRA National Champion. During her fifth-year season, she served as co-captain of the team and earned First-Team All-NIRA honors. Jarrell made the 2020 USA Women's Senior National Team competition roster which helped earn her spot on the World Cup roster. 

Assistant Coach Sylvia Braaten will be joining the staff as USA Rugby Head of Strength and Conditioning.

Head coach Mel Denham is "incredibly proud of Maya, Jenny, and Erica for earning this opportunity to represent the USA and compete for a world title. The journey to a World Cup is a long hard road, and their dedication to the sport and commitment to excellence and the growth process is an inspiration to our team and so representative of the athletes, both recruits and walk-ons, who come through our Harvard Rugby program. We couldn't be more excited for them and for the team to be able to tune in and see their alum, who is not far-removed, competing for a world title and leading the way.

Being our 40th anniversary, this is such an amazing piece of history to add to our story! Jenny, Maya, and Erica continue a legacy of Harvard alumnae on the USA National Team. This is the first time we have had three Harvard alumni plus one staff representing in a single World Cup! This is quite outstanding, and a testament to the rich history and culture the past and present members of Harvard Rugby and Radcliffe Rugby have created."

The World Cup will be held in New Zealand from Saturday, October 8 until Saturday, November 12. In a Pool Style competition, Team USA will first play Italy in Pool B on Sunday, October 9. 

USA Pool Play: 

USA vs Italy 
Saturday, Oct. 9, 7:45pm ET 

USA vs Japan 
Friday, Oct. 14, 12:30am ET 

USA vs Canada 
Saturday, Oct. 22, 10:15pm ET