Dozens and dozens of American accents filled the night outside the Stade De France on Tuesday, sharing the historic moment: a first Olympic medal for the US in rugby sevens. They reflected on the players; a smiling crowd of friends, family, staff and fans, desperate for a hug and a photo of these new American heroes.
But one voice was unlike any other. Tamara Sheppard, the former head of high performance for the Australian swimming team, was right in the middle of it all. The Queenslander took the job overseeing USA Rugby’s men’s and women’s programs seven months ago. And while Tuesday marked a significant milestone in rugby’s rise in North America, for Sheppard, the work is just beginning.
“Tonight was a great moment to show people in the US how great women’s rugby is, it gives us a platform to show the world how great we are in LA [2028 Olympics]and then the home World Cups [in 2031 and 2033] to be competitive,” Sheppard said. “So I think this is just the beginning of where we can go.”
Mark you, they did. The social media vision of Alex “Spiff” Sedrick’s miraculous last-minute try against Australia has exploded on social media, building on the foundation laid by Insta-star Ilona Maher.
It’s not just the faceless millions who have jumped on board. In the hours following the milestone bronze, American businesswoman Michele Kang – owner of several sports clubs, including the French women’s soccer team Lyon – announced a $4 million gift to the U.S. women’s sevens team.
Sheppard laughs when asked if Australia should be worried, but the competitive threat to traditional rugby powers seems real. USA Rugby claims there are more than 100,000 players in the US.
The experienced Australian sports official – who has worked in basketball, netball and swimming – was impressed by the calibre of athletes in her seven months with the program.
“They’re brave, they like contact and they’ve got speed, which is a great combination to have in your talent pool,” Sheppard said. “They play in a way that’s so physically challenging, I don’t think they’ll ever give up.”
Much has been said about Rugby Australia’s golden decade, about the 2025 Lions tour, the 2027 men’s World Cup, the 2029 women’s edition and then the 2032 Brisbane Games. Yet this string of major tournaments almost mirrors the coming decade for USA Rugby. The Americans will host the 2028 LA Games and then two World Cups in a few years.
Expectations are high for both countries to help raise rugby’s profile. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said the success of sevens at Paris 2024 – where more than 500,000 fans enjoyed six days of competition – had forced organisers in LA and Brisbane to rethink their approach.
“[LA 2028 organisers] “We’ve had Brisbane 2032 here for a couple of sessions,” Gilpin said. “We’ve had Brisbane 2032 here for a couple of sessions. And of course everyone’s instinct is, ‘oh my god, we haven’t got a big enough stadium that we’ve got planned for you at the moment’.”
On the field, Sheppard wants to make sure USA Rugby has bold goals and is committed to them. “The biggest thing we have to focus on is we have to win when it matters most, the Olympics, the World Cups, and we have to continue to do everything we can to prepare for that moment.”
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No one could deny the Americans that their timing in their bronze medal play-off against Australia was anything but impeccable. A try on the siren and the subsequent conversion was an extraordinary way to eliminate the heavy favorites.
Sheppard has only been there for seven months and is reluctant to take credit for the team’s success, but she does feel a strong bond with Australia’s successful swimmers, whose potential she has helped unlock over her five years in the sport.
“I feel so proud when I see Mollie O’Callaghan, who was 16 and 17 on the Tokyo relay swimming teams, stand up and win individual medals, Kaylee McKeown, Arnie [Ariarne Titmus]“I think it’s a source of pride to see them continue,” Sheppard said.
But now the Australian – who worked for Queensland Reds in her first role in the sport 20 years ago – has come full circle. And just like a rugby sevens match, Sheppard said, there is little time to waste.
“The American rugby world has high ambitions, and so do I, and that’s why we’ve put both the men’s and women’s teams on stage in LA. Starting tomorrow, we’re going to be striving for that.”