From the Saddle to the Scrum: USA Eagle Olivia Ortiz

From the Saddle to the Scrum: USA Eagle Olivia Ortiz

From US Rugby Happy Hour by American Rugby Rising

April 10, 2026 · 31 min

About this episode

Olivia Ortiz shares her journey from equestrian sports to becoming a USA Eagle rugby player.

In this episode of the US Rugby Happy Hour, host Bill Baker and co-host John Fitzpatrick sit down with USA Eagle #289 and Sale Sharks scrum-half Olivia Ortiz. As the team prepares for the highly anticipated Pac 4 series on home soil, Olivia shares insights into the squad's preparation under new head coach Jack Hanratty and the "yes" philosophy driving their exciting new style of play. The conversation kicks off with a look at the show’s signature introduction song—a track so energetic that Olivia suggests it belongs on a pre-game hype playlist. The discussion dives deep into Olivia’s unconventional path to international rugby, moving from a national-caliber equestrian background in Michigan to discovering the sport during her senior year of high school. She discusses her "horse girl" teammates, her journey through Davenport University on a scholarship, and her current professional life in the UK with the Sale Sharks. Whether she is addressing the challenges of being a 4'11" player in a physical sport or sharing her love for her dogs back home, Olivia’s story is a testament to determination and proving the doubters wrong. —————————————— 🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of…

People in this episode

Hosts: Bill Baker, John Fitzpatrick

Guest: Olivia Ortiz

Topics covered

  • USA Rugby
  • Olivia Ortiz
  • Pac 4 series
  • rugby preparation
  • athlete journey

Keywords

  • USA Eagle
  • rugby
  • Sale Sharks
  • athlete journey
  • Pac 4 series
  • Jack Hanratty
  • Davenport University

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sale Sharks, Davenport University

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