Bella Vogel becomes first American nominated for a World Rugby award

Bella Vogel is 19, and she has become the first American ever nominated for a major World Rugby award. The USA women's back, who plays at centre or fly-half, is up for Breakthrough Player of the Year in the women's 15s game, according to The Guardian.

Vogel grew up in Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, and started playing rugby at 10. She played for Knightmare Rugby and now studies at Life University in Marietta, Georgia. She made her debut for the USA in summer 2026, at 19.

She is not the only young player on the list. World Rugby named its nominees on 26 October. England's Zoe Harrison and Megan Jones, Canada's DaLeaka Menin and New Zealand's Kaipo Olsen-Baker are up for Player of the Year. Pauline Barrat of France, Elinor-Plum King of New Zealand and Amelia Whitaker of Australia are shortlisted for Breakthrough Player. Winners were due to be announced this weekend.

Vogel's team now face England, the strongest side in the world rankings, on Friday night. The USA arrive on a run of five straight wins. They beat Italy 54-24 in Nashville, Tennessee, and Freda Tafuna scored three tries. Tafuna is a 23-year-old number 8, the forward who plays at the back of the scrum and often drives the team forward from the base of the pack.

The win over Italy lifted the USA to sixth in the world rankings. England sit top. The match is at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, and kicks off at 21:15 GMT. It is the final match of England's WXV Global Series campaign, the autumn run of women's international fixtures. England's Red Roses have been on the road in North America, and head coach John Mitchell has made six changes to his starting line-up.

England have plenty of recent form to answer. They beat the USA 69-7 in the opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup, in front of 43,000 spectators. Their unbeaten run of 41 games over four years ended this October, with two defeats by Canada.

For the USA, the match is a chance to test their winning run against the best team in the world. Jack Hanratty is the coach of the US Eagles women's team, and his side will be looking to add to a breakthrough year.