Senior International Matches (Women)

Fri 27th February 2026   - KO  18:00 - Coronado High School, Las Vegas

United States of America

14

FT

26

Half Time
0 - 10

Scotland

Tries

Tiana Granby (42)
Josephine Asumang (46)
Afi Tone (63)

Steph Gray (3)
Rebecca Smart (16)
Nicole Stewart (59)
Sammi Simpson (68,71)

Goals

Nicole Fisch (1/3)

Nicole Stewart (3/5)

Match Preview: USA and Scotland prepare for historic women's match in Las Vegas

The first internationals of the year take place in Las Vegas on Friday 27 February as USA host Scotland in an U19 men’s and senior women’s and men’s triple header. The games take place Coronado High School with 15.45, 18.00 and 20.15 kick offs respectively, local time.

Both the senior men’s and women’s encounters will be played for world ranking points. Those games build on USA’s last outings this time last year, also in Las Vegas, when the women overcame Greece 46-0 but the men went down 46-10 to their Hellenic counterparts..

USARL chair, Matt Goschnick, commented: “The USARL board is excited to see all the squads get together and to build on last year’s event here. It shows a commitment to pathways and development.” USA women’s head coach, Troy Clarkson, added: “We are excited to work with the new bunch of women and set a new standard with them.

“It’s another important step in the continued development of the Scotland Rugby League women’s programme,” said women’s assistant coach Gareth Nicholson, who takes charge of the side for this their third match. “We’re still in the early stages of building our international identity, but the progress within this squad has been significant.”

United States of America (squad): Brandice Neal, Brittany Royes, Isabel Henderson, Josephine Asumang, Kadie Sandford, Mia Blocher, Nicole Fisch, Sarah Anderson, ShaMarica Scott, Taylor White, Tiana Granby (East), Afi Tone, Jeanna Beard, Maiah Alofaituli, Paris Hart, Salataima Mamea, Sydney Pua, Teree Okabe (West)

Scotland (squad): Nicole Stewart (Barrow Raiders), Raphaella Aquilina, Robyn Price (Bristol Golden Fearns), Enya Lackie (Bristol Golden Ferns), Grace Field (Leeds Rhinos), Rebecca Smart (London Broncos), Steph Gray (Salford Red Devils), Betti Ginnelly (Stewartry Sirens), Ciorstadia Ainsworth (Stirling County), Emma Whelsford, Georgia Briggs, Morgan Pearson, Sammi Simpson (Swinton Lionesses), Isabel Glover (Thatto Heath), Olivia Barnard (Wigan St Patrick's), Rebecca White (Workington Town), Cerys Gregory (York Valkyrie)

26 February 2026
1 Brittany Royes
Full Back
Rebecca Smart 1
22 Sydney Pua
Right Wing
Raphaella Aquilina 2
3 Mia Blocher
Right Centre
Steph Gray 3
4 Brandice Neal
Left Centre
Enya Lackie 4
5 Josephine Asumang
Left Wing
Olivia Barnard 5
6 Teree Okabe
Stand Off
Emma Whelsford 6
7 Tiana Granby
Scrum Half
Isabel Glover 7
8 Afi Tone
Prop
Robyn Price 10
9 Nicole Fisch
Hooker
Cerys Gregory 9
10 Kadie Sandford
Prop
Georgia Briggs 13
11 Jeanna Beard
Second Row
Sammi Simpson 14
12 ShaMarica Scott
Second Row
Ciorstadia Ainsworth 12
13 Sarah Anderson
Loose Forward
Nicole Stewart 8
14 Paris Hart
Int 1
Morgan Pearson 15
15 Isabel Henderson
Int 2
Grace Field 11
16 Salataima Mamea
Int 3
Betti Ginnelly 16
17 Maiah Alofaituli
Int 4
Rebecca White 17
18 Taylor White
Reserve 1

Scotland were victorious in Las Vegas after a determined and controlling performance over USA. 

“This was a really good game for us against good opposition” noted Gareth Nicholson, Scotland’s Assistant Coach. “We knew they had some flyers who we had to shut down fast and over the whole match we were very tight. The intensity was good and the players responded to everything around this whole experience positively. Winning feels good of course but the respect between the two teams in what was a hard match should be recognised."

Steph Gray was the first to score as she pounced on a loose ball, kicked through on the back off back to back penalties, in the right corner to get the Bravehearts off the mark although Nicole Stewart did not have the power to add the conversion from the touchline.

Rebecca Smart carried two defenders with her over the line as she crossed for Scotland’s second try as the visitors put a passage of play together to move them all the way downfield give her the platform to make her break. Stewart added the extras.

Both sides slugged out the second quarter of the game with both sides completing their sets and showcasing some flowing Rugby League.

Tiana Granby opened the USA’s account immediately after the break, finishing a passing move in the left corner although Nicole Fisch couldn’t further improve the score. Minutes later, Josephine Asumang cleaned up a fumbled ball on Scotland’s 10 metre line, running in 90 metres to score in the middle of the field without Scotland laying a finger on her. Fisch converted to level the scores.

Stewart hit the ball at pace in the middle of the park on the hour mark, fending off defenders from 20 metres out to restore Scotland’s lead, touching down under the posts and giving herself an easy conversion to stretch the lead.

But Scotland were caught napping from the restart as the ball was regathered by USA and passed through seven hands before Afi Tone showed her own forward prowess to barrel through the last line of defence to add a further USA try, though Fisch was again unable to convert to level the scores.

The final words went to Scotland’s Sammi Simpson, with her quick-fire brace, with the first converted by Stewart, putting the game beyond doubt for the visitors. 

“The team did what was asked of them and we had a lot of players making their debut and a lot who are new to rugby league” added Troy Clarkson, USA Head Coach. “This is just the start for us but we will improve rapidly. I am super proud of our players and they should be proud of themselves and the team and environment they are creating.”

28 February 2026