Scott Lawrence has selected 32 players in his Senior Men’s Eagles squad for the July test window. The USA will face off against Belgium in Charlotte on July 5, Spain at the same venue on July 12, and England in the nation’s capital on July 19. Qualification for the 2027 World Cup follows with the Eagles opening their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Canada in Calgary on August 22.
Nine players yet to make their test bow for the Eagles have been included. Three of them have previously played international rugby for other nations – loosehead prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Samoa), flyhalf Chris Hilsenbeck (Germany), and outside back Rufus McLean (Scotland). Hilsenback has already observed his three-year stand-down period, but Lindenmuth and McLean won’t hit that requirement until July 16.
DC lock Tevita Naqali suited up for Fiji in a non-cap match against the Barbarians in 2019. San Diego flanker Christian Poidevin could make his test debut 24 years after his father’s last appearance for Australia. Other newcomers include giant Utah prop Tonga Kofe, Houston enforcer Marno Redelinghuys, ex-Harlequins academy flanker Makeen Alikhan, and France-based flyhalf or center Tom Pittman.
Pittman is one of three players named who currently play their club rugby overseas, though he is set to join Anthem in Major League Rugby next year. The others are Provence hooker Kapeli Pifeleti and Bristol star AJ MacGinty. Toulouse prop David Ainu’u was unavailable for selection, along with Biarritz lock or No8 Nafi Ma’afu who is currently recovering from a knee injury.
There is one collegiate inclusion in St. Mary’s center Dom Besag, a former national u20 captain who has already made 9 test appearance. Nine players could potentially suit up in MLR Finals this coming weekend. An extended list of players on standby is expected to be named shortly but USA Rugby have yet to issue a formal release.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC) 13 caps
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Payton Telea-Ilalio (San Diego Legion) 1 cap
HOOKER
Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion) 2 caps
Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence, FR) 19 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Pono Davis (Houston SaberCats) 5 caps
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks) 2 caps
Tonga Kofe (Utah Warriors) uncapped
SECOND ROW
Sam Golla (Anthem RC) 7 caps
Vili Helu (San Diego Legion) 14 caps
Tevita Naqali (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Marno Redelinghuys (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
BACK ROW
Makeen Alikhan (Anthem RC) uncapped
Benjamín Bonasso (Miami Sharks) 7 caps
Tomás Casares (Miami Sharks) 3 caps
Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC) 10 caps
Christian Poidevin (San Diego Legion) uncapped
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC) 14 caps
SCRUMHALF
Ruben de Haas (NOLA Gold) 36 caps
JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves) 6 caps
FLYHALF
Christopher Hilsenback (Chicago Hounds) uncapped
AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears, UK) 40 caps
Tom Pittman (Chartres, FR) uncapped
MIDFIELD
Dom Besag (St. Mary’s Gaels) 9 caps
Tavite Lopeti (San Diego Legion) 20 caps
Erich Storti (Anthem RC) 2 caps
OUTSIDE BACKS
Nate Augspurger (Chicago Hounds) 49 caps
Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds) 1 cap
Toby Fricker (Anthem RC) 2 caps
Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves) 3 caps
Rufus McLean (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Mitch Wilson (Anthem RC) 13 caps
The post Men’s Eagles name final squad for July test series appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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