The Barbarians FC scored in the first 40 seconds, and on the final play, and in between both the USA and the Baa-Baas produced an exhibition of top-flight rugby worthy of a historic occasion.

This game was the first game between the Barbarians women’s team and a national team, and it was the first game played between any Barbarians squad and the USA.

Watch The Full Game On-Demand

Anyone arriving late to Infinity Park in Glendale, CO missed some early fireworks as the Barbarians marched right down the field. Flyhalf El Snowsill delayed her pass and fed a short ball to fullback Jasmine Joyce, and she was through for a brilliant score. Joyce wasn’t done. 

“To play for the Barbarians is something you really only dream of doing,” said the Welsh fullback. “We just wanted to make our countries proud.”

The Eagles didn’t crater after that early try, and while it was hectic going in the early minutes, the USA players held off the visitors despite some champagne efforts.

Elinor Snowsill (@elsnowsill) nails the back kick!
? @Barbarian_FC

— FloRugby (@FloRugby) April 26, 2019

Then the Americans showed they can pop the cork a little, too. After surviving some intense pressure, in their own 22, the Eagles cleared, and from the ensuing lineout, center Amy Naber charged through, intercepted a pass, and was in under the posts from 50 meters.

Naber then had a big hand in the next score, a superb team try. Prop Catherine Benson powered through a few tacklers and linked with scrumhalf Carly Waters. She passed off to lock Nicole Strasko, who set free wing Neariah Persinger, who beat a couple of players and passed off to lock Stacey Bridges. Bridges offloaded back to with center Amy Nader, and somehow she found Persinger, who had picked herself off the ground to get into position. The wing beat two tacklers to dive in at the corner.

Incredible try by @USARugby!

— FloRugby (@FloRugby) April 26, 2019

It was a piece of magic that involved ten pairs of hands and covered 60 meters.

Up 12-7 the USA started to lay in the hits, and made the Barbarians work for their points. It wasn’t until the 31st minute that Joyce got some space and cut through the USA defense, finishing the USA for a turnover.

That plan seemed to make sense for the Baa-Baas, so from the restart they sent the ball wide to Joyce again, and she had recovered her breath enough to go 80 meters and make a mockery of the USA tackling.

That made it 19-12 Barbarians, and from the restart it was soon 24-12. The Eagles worried about the outside, so they went inside, with Irish flanker Paula Fitzpatrick galloping through a hole, linked with American Carmen Farmer, and then Snowsill lofted a pass to Irish wing Alison Miller, who took the angle to the corner. 

Scottish center Helen Nelson cut through just before halftime and after a long run her teammates were there to finally send flanker Alisha Butchers (Wales) for a try and a 29-12 lead.

But Rob Cain’s words at halftime had an effect.

The Americans defended much better and held the Barbarians scoreless. Naber and Eti Haungatau linked nicely with sub wing Bulou Mataitoga to get Jennine Duncan close, and then after a tap penalty, Haungatau bulled over to finish the try.

That put some wind in the USA’s sails, but neither team was able to really break through again until ten minutes to go. That’s when the drama began.

A long period of pressure with the forwards bashing at the line finally opened some space for Persinger to get her second. That made it a one-score game at 29-24, and when Gabby Cantorna hit the conversion there was just three points in it. 

Once again it was the forwards that started it for the USA, and this time finished it, as the redoubtable Kate Zackary burst onto a pass from Bridges and was gone from 50 meters out. Cantorna converted and suddenly, amazingly, the USA led 33-29.

But there was one more chance for the Barbarians. They won the ball on the restart thanks to Farmer, and a long pass to Joyce saw the Welshwoman cut through an exhausted USA team to win it.

Barbarians 34 USA 33.  The loss won’t be fun for the USA, they the Eagles showed they can hang with a team of international all-stars, and they defended in excellent fashion in the final 40 minutes.

Barbarians 34

Tries: Joyce 4, Butchers, Miller

Convs: Jensen 2

USA 33

Tries: Persinger 2, Naber, Haungatau, Zackary

Convs: Cantorna 4

U.S. Women’s National Team Starters

U.S. Women’s National Team Reserves

Barbarians

1. Rochelle Clark (Wasps & England)
2. Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland Marist & New Zealand)
3. Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, VC (Christchurch & New Zealand)
4. Carmen Farmer (Glendale & USA)
5. Dalena Dennison (Warringah & Australia)
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's & Ireland)
7. Alisha Butchers (Worcester Valkyries & Wales)
8. Linda Itunu, Captain (Ponsonby & New Zealand)
9. Emma Jensen (Hastings & New Zealand)
10. Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears & Wales)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere & Ireland)
12. Helen Nelson, VC (Montpelier & Scotland)
13. Amanda Thornborough (Westshore & Canada)
14. Tova Derk (Wasps)
15. Jasmine Joyce (Worcester Valkyries & Wasps)

Reserves:
16. Heather Kerr (Darlington MP & England)
17. Samantha Martinez Gion (Amsterdam & Netherlands)
18. Gill Bourke (Stade Francais & Ireland)
19. Amelia Buckland-Hurry (Bristol Bears)
20. Julia Folk (Castaway Wanderers & Canada)
21. Hannah Stolba (Glendale & USA)
22. Andrea Burk (Capilano & Canada
23. Katie Mason (Wasps & England)