DNVR Rugby Podcast: USA Eagles Nick James and Sylvia Braaten

Colton Strickler jumps into the show with ‘The Breakdown’ by talking about the RugbyTown Crossover Academy, Women’s Rugby Week, the United States Women’s National Team XVs Stars vs. Stripes matches, the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and tells you about all of the rugby you can watch this weekend. After ‘The Breakdown’, Colton talks to USWNT XV prop Nick James and strength and conditioning coach Sylvia Braaten about wrapping up their camp and preparing for the 2021 Rugby World Cup. After the interview, Colton assigns some ‘Required Reading’ and closes the show with ‘The Loop.’

Nick James is a prop for the United States Women’s National XV teams. She began playing rugby college at Texas A&M after competing in several different sports such as football, softball, basketball, powerlifting, cross country, and track & field throughout her life. She earned Collegiate All-American honors in 2010 and earned her first cap with the USWNT in 2017.

Sylvia Braaten is the strength and conditioning coach for the USWNT XVs team and the assistant coach for Harvard women’s rugby program. She graduated from Marquette University, where she picked up rugby. She made her debut for the USWNT in 2011 and competed in the 2014 and 2017 Rugby World Cups.

Please send in any questions you have about rugby in Colorado, Major League Rugby, or American rugby as a whole to @DNVR_Rugby and @coltonstrickler on Twitter.

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE POD! iTunes link – Stitcher Link – Spotify Link