USA Name 41 Player Preliminary Roster for July Tests: 75% of Players from MLR Teams
The US have named a 41 player preliminary roster that will be reduced to 30 by late June. It’s a good move and allows the MLR teams to plan early around the disruption of the July tests. Rugby Canada have stated they will release their list by mid-June and whether that’s an extended roster or closer to the travelling 30 man roster, remains to be seen.
MLR players (31) make up 75% of selections, the team breakdown is below. NOLA providing the most players (5). The two teams at the bottom of the standings, Houston and Seattle provided one player each.
LA 3
Atlanta 2
New York 4
New Orleans 5
Austin 4
Utah 4
DC 3
Toronto 0
New England 1
San Diego 3
Houston 1
Seattle 1
There are 14 players uncapped and 9 players below 10 caps. The most capped player is 31 year old Cam Dolan with 51 caps.
The 10 non-MLR players come from a high level with 3 in the Top 14 in France, 2 from the English Premiership, 3 from the English Championship (on the top two teams), 1 from Super Rugby and 1 from Mitre 10 Cup.
Head Coach Gary Gold has selected a preliminary roster of 41 players for the USA Mens XVs National Teams July test matches. Facing England on July 4 and Ireland on July 10, both away matches will mark the first time the Eagles have assembled since Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
Roughly 75% of the roster a total of 31 players represent Major League Rugby clubs, demonstrating the growth of talent and opportunities in American rugby despite a challenging year with COVID-19. Another 15 players have the opportunity to be capped for the first time as the entire squad represents a sampling of the player pool that will position the United States for its sprint to Rugby World Cup 2023.
Pending any additional or unforeseen injuries, Coach Gold and staff will continue to evaluate this roster over the coming weeks and make final selections for the 30 players who will travel to England and Ireland. Those who are not selected from this list will serve as injury reserves.
Coach Gold said:
Its taken us some time to come up with this list of players and Im very happy to see this group of guys make even more strides in the coming weeks.
A huge thank you to all the MLR clubs, not just for working with us as we select this group, but also in delivering a competitive training and competition environment that will help us get on the front foot in the short time we have ahead of facing England and Ireland.
We still have some work to do in terms of making final selections but we are excited to see the final squad of 30 come together and to play some meaningful games this year.
Alongside the roster, the Eagles staff also welcomes Rob Hoadley as Assistant Coach and Eagle Alumnus Chris Wyles as a Coach Consultant for the July tests specifically. Hoadley has an extensive coaching background with stints at Wasps, Stanford University and San Diego Legion, to name a few, while Wyles most recently spent 10 years with Saracens before hanging up the boots.
The official traveling roster for the Eagles summer test series will be announced in late June. KO times and broadcast information will follow suit.
Following July, the Eagles will assemble again in September for a two-part Rugby World Cup qualification series against rivals-Canada. The Eagles will host the second match on Sept 11 at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO with details for the first match to be confirmed. A final qualification series against a team from South America may follow suit along with a fall test schedule that is currently being organized.
USA Mens Eagles 41-Player Extended Roster
PLAYER NAME POSITION CLUB CAPS
David Ainuu Prop Toulouse (FRA) 9
Malon Al-Jiboori Flanker Ealing Trailfinders (ENG) 6
Harry Barlow Center New England Free Jacks uncapped
Michael Baska Scrumhalf Utah Warriors uncapped
Nick Boyer Scrumhalf Houston Sabercats 1
Marcel Brache Wing Western Force (AUS) 23
Nate Brakeley Lock Rugby United New York 23
Bryce Campbell Center Austin Gilgronis 32
Luke Carty Flyhalf LA Giltinis Uncapped
Nick Civetta Lock Rugby United New York 26
Ryan Rees Scrumhalf Rugby ATL Uncapped
Mike Dabulas Fullback Old Glory DC Uncapped
Ruben De Haas Scrumhalf Austin Gilgronis 17
Cam Dolan No. 8 NOLA Gold 51
Jamason Faanana Schultz Flanker Old Glory DC 2
Dylan Fawsitt Hooker Rugby United New York 15
Mike Sosene Feagai Hooker Old Glory DC Uncapped
Hanco Germishuys Flanker Rugby United New York 21
Andrew Guerra Flanker NOLA Gold Uncapped
Riekert Hattingh No. 8 Seattle Seawolves Uncapped
Will Hooley Flyhalf Saracens (ENG) 15
Ryan James Wing LA Giltinis Uncapped
Mika Kruse Center/Wing Utah Warriors Uncapped
Titi Lamositele Prop Montpellier (FRA) 32
Matt Harmon Prop NOLA Gold Uncapped
AJ MacGinty Flyhalf Sale Sharks (ENG) 28
Will Magie Flyhalf Austin Gilgronis 26
Siaosi Mahoni Lock San Diego Legion 2
Ryan Matyas Wing San Diego Legion 12
Conner Mooneyham Wing Austin Gilgronis Uncapped
Gannon Moore Wing North Harbour (NZ) 4
Paul Mullen Prop Utah Warriors 18
Greg Peterson Lock Newcastle Falcons 30
KP Pifeleti Hooker Saracens 3
John Ryberg Wing LA Giltinis Uncapped
Joe Taufetee Hooker Lyon (FRA) 27
Mike Teo Wing Utah Warriors 28
Moni Tongauiha Center NOLA Gold Uncapped
Dino Waldren Prop NOLA Gold 19
Chance Wenglewski Prop Rugby ATL 6
Psalm Wooching Flanker San Diego Legion 4
USA Mens Eagles Staff
Head Coach | Gary Gold
Asst Coach | Rob Hoadley
Coach Consultant | Chris Wyles
Head of Strength & Conditioning | Huw Bevan
Performance Analyst | Jimmy Harrison
Team Doctor | Marc Kowolsky
Athletic Trainer | Kristen Douhan
Asst Athletic Trainer | Ron Klingensmith
Team Manager | Oscar Alvarez
Asst Manager | Will Bevan
USA vs England
July 4, 2021
Twickenham Stadium, England
KO and Broadcast TB
USA vs Ireland
July 10, 2021
Aviva Stadium, Ireland
KO and Broadcast TBA