CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Cameron Fields and Tiahna Padilla of the Harvard women's rugby team have been named to the USA Rugby U23 National Team to play in the Americas Cup in Brazil from Saturday, June 3 to Wednesday, June 7 for the Americas Rugby Trophy. Harvard Head Coach Mel Denham will serve as an assistant coach. The team will face senior national teams from Brazil and Colombia. 

The South America series is the first of many assemblies for the Women's U23s this summer, a competition that will supply invaluable experience in preparing, playing and analyzing an international tour. The team kicks off its Americas Rugby Trophy tour with a matchup against hosts Brazil on June 3 at Nicolau Alayon Stadium. They will then go on to play Colombia on June 7 at Nogueirão Stadium. All matches will be livestreamed on Brasil Rugby YouTube. 

Fields and Padilla will join a squad of 26 talented U23 rugby players that includes many players that have faced through the 2023 season, including many adversaries at the 2023 USA Rugby Sevens Championship. Through the 2023 season, Fields scored 65 points for the Crimson off of 13 tries. Padilla scored 45 points off of nine tries. Earlier this season, Padilla was named a finalist for the MA Sorensen award, after she topped Fall stats with the highest number of assists (10), 18 clean turnovers, and 32 offloads during the 15s season. The two last competed for Harvard at the USA Rugby Sevens National Championship in Houston, where the team went on to take third in the Cup Championship with a 19-12 victory over rival Dartmouth. 

Denham joins a traveling staff as one of two assistant coaches under head coach Katie Dowty.