Katana Howard

US international centre Katana Howard joined Sale Sharks Women along with compatriots Nick James and Catie Benson ahead of the 2021/22 Premier 15s season. 

Katana starting playing rugby at the age of 17 when a classmate suggested they try out for the local team. A keen sportswoman, she had played softball for four years, football for 14 years, as well as basketball for eight years before making the transition to rugby. 

In 2013 she was named in the USA U20s squad and represented her country on the U20s tour to England. A year later, Katana helped the Twin City Amazons make it to the semi-finals of the 2014 Women's Premier League Championships.

Howard received her first call-up for the full US Women's National Team ahead of their historic first-ever matchup with the Barbarians in April 2019. In June of that year, she officially earned her first cap against England in the opening round of Women's Rugby Super Series in Chula Vista, CA.