How to watch athletes from State College, Penn State in the Women’s Rugby World Cup
USA Rugby is set to begin play in the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday in New Zealand, with a number of Nittnay Lions and a State College native taking part.
Former Penn State players Gabby Cantorna, Meya Bizer, Tess Feury, Carly Waters, Catie Benson, Elizabeth Cairns and Hope Rogers will all represent their country in the tournament. Rachel Ehrecke is a traveling reserve. Additionally, assistant USA Rugby coach and Penn State head coach Kate Daley joins her former collegiate players.
“Having so many people that I played with at a younger age has been very special to get this experience with them,” said Cantorna, who graduated from State High. “A few of them were in school before me and were already captains, so it’s like playing with your idols at the time and the people that taught you the game. So, it’s really special.”
The United States won the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991 and made two consecutive finals appearances but haven’t finished higher than fourth since. America defeated Australia and Scotland with losses to England and New Zealand in warm-up matches heading into the World Cup. Canada is ranked third and will be in Pool B with the United States, who is ranked sixth in the world, along with Italy and Japan.
‘Full circle’ for Penn State rugby
While at Penn State, Cantorna won four National College Championships and won the Most Valuable Player award in the D1 Elite National Championship in 2017. She signed with England’s Exeter Chiefs in 2020.
Rugby is a family affair for Cantorna. She was a four-year varsity soccer player at State College and played rugby during the spring after watching her sister, Elena, play before. Elena went on from playing four years at State College to playing five seasons at Penn State (2010-2015). Their father, Bernie, serves as a volunteer assistant coach at Penn State (2010-present) and is also the Centre County District Attorney.
Not only is Bernie Cantorna excited to watch his daughter and her teammates compete at the highest level, but he’s looking forward to Daley reuniting with her players. He’s seen the fruits of her labor as a player, as she competed in the same tournament years prior as a captain.
“When I was coaching Penn State with my daughter’s team, we were watching Daley captain the national team at the Rugby World Cup,” Bernie Cantorna said. “It’s full circle that she’s now the head coach and we have current players who are watching both their head coach and players that they know of — some might have even played with them — playing at the World Cup. So it really is full circle and it’s great for the program.”
With the number of Penn State players and Gabby Cantorna’s deep State College roots, the 27-year old looks to inspire more boys and girls in the area to play the sport. Since she’s left Penn State, she’s seen interest in the sport grow exponentially in the region, with Hollidaysburg and State College leading the way.
“State College as a place is a big town for where it is located and as far as rugby goes, there’s not really a ton of options anywhere nearby,” Gabby Cantorna said. “For all of the schools in that greater Centre County area that have interest in playing, they’d have to go through State High. I think it’s very important that Penn State is there with as good of rugby that it has been and also that the high school program continues to offer the outlet for kids that want to try rugby and grow through it because there is a lot of opportunity through the game.”
USA World Cup Schedule
Group Stage, Pool B
Saturday, Oct. 8 Italy at 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15 Japan at 12:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22 Canada at 10:15 p.m.
Events can be streamed on Peacock.
