The Wallaroos, Australia’s women’s rugby team, faced an unexpected evacuation from their Kansas City hotel due to a tornado warning in the area. This incident adds to the team’s recent challenges, having already contended with unusual weather conditions during the Pacific Four series, including a match against Canada in Sacramento that was played in front of no spectators because of lightning.
On Tuesday evening (AEST), the team confirmed in a statement that all players and staff were required to leave their rooms due to reports of active tornadoes in the Kansas City metropolitan area and across Missouri. The evacuation lasted approximately one hour, after which they were allowed to return to their rooms despite the tornado warning remaining in effect until 11pm local time.
Prior to the evacuation, the Wallaroos trained under windy and dry conditions, unaware of the unfolding weather alerts. Severe weather patterns have already caused damages south of Kansas City, leading to power outages for at least 8,000 residents.
Wallaroos scrumhalf Samantha Wood expressed her surprise at the conditions during the Sacramento match, recalling the disorienting experience of warming up only to be pulled off the field multiple times due to heavy rain. She noted that such disruptions were not only shocking but also exhausting as the team waited and conserved energy, uncertain if the match would proceed. Despite the weather-related anxieties, she felt relieved to have played.
The Wallaroos are set to compete against the United States in Kansas City on Saturday, although ongoing weather warnings raise the possibility that the match could be postponed or relocated. The forecast indicates continued threats from high winds, hail, and potential tornado activity throughout the week, complicating preparations for the upcoming game. As the team navigates these turbulent conditions, they remain focused on their performance while staying alert to the unpredictability of the weather in this part of the United States.