Story by Jon Dinan
January 11 — Rosie Miesner of Roscoe recently earned the opportunity to represent her country as part of the National Women’s Rugby Team.
The 30-woman squad was fielded from a pool of 40 of the nation’s top female rugby players.
In November the USA Eagles, as they’re called, traveled to Europe for a two-week tour, during which they played three games against two European national teams.
Miesner played in all three games.
“To go over and play on the tour was truly amazing,” said Miesner, who is a kindergarten teacher in New York City. “It was really a dream come true.”
It was a dream that came very close to being dashed by injury. Six weeks before the tour, Miesner sprained her ankle playing with her domestic New York Rugby Club team.
“It was an incredible challenge physically,” Miesner revealed. “I had to modify my gym work and I spent a lot of time in the pool.”
Fortunately a highly-motivated Miesner recovered just in time for the international competiton.
On November 18, the Eagles won their first match against Italy 34-20, but dropped their next two games to France.
The Eagles will have a shot at redemption in June when team France visits the States for a rematch.
“The European tour was very intense,” Miesner said, who was joined on the trip by her parents, Lori and Paul of Roscoe. “Every minute was planned. Eating, napping, sleeping and practicing were all very strictly scheduled, but it was also very rewarding.
“Now I know that if I put in the work, I can realistically achieve any goal in rugby that I set for myself.”
Rosie’s current goals include gaining 10 pounds to make herself a more imposing physical threat and staying healthy. She would like to be selected to play in this Summer’s Nation’s Cup (where a number of European teams will come to the U.S. to compete) and the 2014 Rugby World Cup.