Nicole Heavirland (born February 25, 1995) is an American rugby union player. She made her debut for the United States in 2017. She was named in the Eagles 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squad.[1][2][3]

Nicole Heavirland
Personal information
Born (1995-02-25) February 25, 1995 (age 29)
Whitefish, Montana, U.S.
EducationPhillips Exeter Academy
Alma materArmy West Point
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight145 lb (66 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly half, Scrum half
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 United States 7
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
- United States 3
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Team competition
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team competition

Biography

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Heavirland attended Glacier High School in her junior year before she transferred to Phillips Exeter Academy.[4] She began playing rugby at the age of 15. She made her rugby sevens debut during the 2015–16 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series. She travelled as a reserve to the 2016 Brazil Olympics.[5][6][7] She was a USA Rugby All-American at the United States Military Academy.[8]

Heavirland was among 12 players selected to represent Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.[9] She was again selected to represent the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[10][11] Heavirland was a travelling alternate at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[12]

She came out as gay in March 2022.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Wise, Chad (July 17, 2017). "Eagles announced for Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland". USA Rugby. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "Women Eagles Name World Cup Squad". www.thisisamericanrugby.com. July 17, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "New caps in Women's Eagles World Cup squad". Americas Rugby News.com. July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  4. ^ Tabish, Dillon (July 8, 2016). "Whitefish Native Heavirland an Olympic Hopeful in Rugby". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: GET TO KNOW USA'S NICOLE HEAVIRLAND". www.canadasevens.com. May 19, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  6. ^ Tabish, Dillon (July 19, 2016). "Whitefish's Heavirland Bound for Brazil". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "RUGBY: Heavirland headed to Rio". The Daily Inter Lake. July 19, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "Nicole Heavirland Named USA Rugby All-American". Army West Point. September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  9. ^ "Tokyo Olympics 101: Who's qualified for Team USA? | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "USA names rosters for Sevens World Cup". Americas Rugby News. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Cahill, Calder (September 1, 2022). "Women's Eagles Sevens target podium chase as roster is named for the Rugby World Cup Sevens". eagles.rugby. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "Whitefish's Nicole Heavirland putting 'best forward,' soaking up third time competing at Olympics". Montana Sports. July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Zeigler, Cyd (March 21, 2022). "Olympian Nicole Heavirland comes out, hoped to be outed". Retrieved March 22, 2022.
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