‘We have belief that we can win games’

It has been a year to remember for USA fly-half McKenzie Hawkins.

The 27-year-old has been at the epicentre of the Eagles’ revamp under Sione Fukofuka since the Australian’s introduction as head coach last year.

After Rob Cain’s exit as head coach following the 2021 Rugby World Cup the Eagles experienced a tumultuous 2023.

Richard Ashfield and Milton Haig each led the team on an interim basis prior to the appointment of former Wallaroos assistant, Fukofuka.

Winning three of their nine Test matches in 2024, the side celebrated an impressive 32-25 victory against Australia in Melbourne but were unable to leave WXV 1 with a point.

But despite those results, there is a new confidence in the latest iteration of these Eagles.

Whether it was a spirited first-half display against England or narrow losses against France and Ireland, it is clear that the World Cup quarter-finalists were a different prospect from two years ago.

It is a change in attitude that Fukofuka has been instrumental in the establishment of and has won the plaudits of his squad in the process.

“I remember the first tour we had with Sione, a couple of us players were asking Sione if we were supposed to be feeling this more?” Hawkins said.

“Are we supposed to be feeling like we are working a little bit too hard? And he said yes. It was the expectation.

“It is not that before Sione we weren’t working hard, it’s just that now it is a lot more calculated.

“We have that expectation of hard work consistently and now we have gotten used to it.

“What we have seen is that with that hard work, we are getting better results.

“We are buying in because we have seen what he (Fukofuka) and the staff have planned for us is coming to fruition.

“I think something that is much more notable in the last year, we actually have belief that we can win games.

“I don’t think I have had that before in a USA jersey, which is new and exciting.

“He came in, we are a thirsty playing group, but now we have the belief that we can turn up and win games

“That belief makes us even hungrier to turn up in 2025 and work even harder because we believe in ourselves even more.”

Since Fukofuka’s introduction as head coach, Hawkins has been a near constant for her country at fly-half.

Playing in all but one of the USA’s Test matches in 2024, the 27-year-old has been at the epicentre of this revival.

Since making her debut for the Eagles in 2018 it is the first time that the MA Sorensen Collegiate Rugby Player of the Year winner has had a consistent run as a starter.

“It has been a dream come true,” Hawkins said. “I am really grateful for all the minutes I have played in the jersey.

“I think because of my rocky USA career, every jersey that I do get, I truly do not take it for granted. I know it could be my last.

“In terms of just playing, it has really benefitted my game growth because I get more experience and every single game I play, I learn something.

“I have learned the most in the past year than I probably have in my entire rugby career.”

Hawkins is one of a number of domestic-based players that will compete in Women’s Elite Rugby’s inaugural season.

Currently marrying her offseason training schedule with time in graduate school, Hawkins will be one of the players benefitting from this increased support.

The competition is looking to capitalise on the success of the USA women’s sevens’ bronze medal at the Olympic Games and the spike in popularity of the WNBA over the past year.

A privately funded competition, 180 players will be paid for the first time, supercharge the development of women’s club rugby in the USA and bridge the gap between collegiate rugby and top-tier competition.

“I’m a very pragmatic person,” Hawkins said. “I tend to be more pragmatic than optimistic.

“I do see the challenges of starting a domestic league very boldly, but I do think there has to be a start to the professionalism of rugby in the United States.

“If this season is a nice, solid foundation which American rugby can grow from, that is really positive.

“I do think that in the United States, we should have a stronger presence for younger girls coming into women’s rugby and I think it is the pathway we should be focussing on.

“So if we do provide this league where younger girls can watch rugby and we bring those numbers, eventually we will have a more solid pathway.

“I am really interested to see how it will go. I am thankful to have more rugby to be playing and will maybe get some girls over from the PWR when that is over and strengthen the quality of the games and bring everyone up together to provide a solid foundation for professional rugby.”

Coming into 2025 the Eagles know exactly what is in store for them.

After the 2025 edition of the Pacific Four Series, all eyes will be on the Rugby World Cup and playing host nation, England, in the tournament opener.

An opportunity to showcase their progress and brand of rugby at the Stadium of Light in late August as the biggest edition of the tournament yet gets underway.

Playing England will draw more attention to the USA, who are hoping to capture the hearts of their home audience as the countdown to hosting the World Cup in 2033.

The concept of inspiring the next generation is enough to make Hawkins’ eyes light up and resonates deeply with the 27-year-old.

“The idea of playing in that game excited me initially,” Hawkins said.

“For USA Rugby as a whole to be the World Cup opener, I feel like looking back to when I was a kid, I would have stars in my eyes.

“I know it would be huge for people in England watching their girls play, but for little girls in the US as the home opener, that is what dreams are made of.

“For me to inspire one little girl would be massive. The way I got into rugby, and I grew up around it, is because I was around US U20 players and that is the entire reason I wanted to play rugby.

“I didn’t even think about the senior side. I wanted to be them. To see that in my own life and reflecting on where I am now, that would be massive to me.

“I would love for any little girl or boy to start playing rugby because they have been watching us.

“Honestly, that is probably the biggest priority in why I continue to play.”