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As the USA Eagles prepare for the upcoming NACRA Olympic Qualifier in Cary, North Carolina, a few familiar faces return to the side as the squad aims to secure their place in the Rio 2016 Olympics. Having completed a Championship season with Saracens, Chris Wyles returns to the Eagles Sevens side for the first time since the 2008-2009 World Series season.
Shalom Suniula and Brett Thompson are also in camp as more Rugby World Cup hopefuls take a stab at helping the USA obtain Olympic qualification. Also returning to the lineup is Zach Test, who sat out the final tournament of the World Series season after suffering an injury in Scotland.
“Chris has worked with me before as he was part of my England development group back in 2005,” said Eagle’s Head Coach Mike Friday in a media release from USA Rugby. “He is coming to compete as he wants to and I think he has the character and traits that complement what we have within the squad and what we expect in our environment.
“Chris is under no illusion how hard it will be for him to break into the 12-man roster and that he has to earn the right at camp, not on reputation, if he wants to make the qualifier.”
Friday will be careful to not tinker too much with the side that took home the Cup Title at the London 7s to end the World Series season on a high note. The side is should be fairly settled at this point in the season, but Friday has made a point of making every single player earn selection throughout the season. Friday’s “No player is safe” attitude is one of the major catalysts behind the USA’s resurgence. Althogh, adding a player of Wyles’ caliber may be too much to resist as the USA sets eyes on defeating rivals Canada.
Team USA is set to compete at the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Regional Qualifier on June 13-14, 2015 at the Wake Med Soccer Park located in Cary, North Carolina.
USA SEVENS TRAINING SQUAD
Nate Augspurger (Old Blue), Perry Baker (1823), Danny Barrett (Golden Gate), Garrett Beter (OMBAC), Pat Blair (Seattle), Andrew Durutalo (OMBAC), Nick Edwards (unattached), Will Holder (OMBAC), Madison Hughes (Dartmouth), Martin Iosefo (U of Montana), Carlin Isles (unattached), Ben Leatigaga (Army), Mataiyasi Leuta (unattached), Folau Niua (Golden Gate), Shalom Suniula (Seattle), Mike Te’o (Belmont Shore), Zack Test (unattached), Brett Thompson (unattached), Stephen Tomasin (OMBAC), Chris Turori (OMBAC), Maka Unufe (unattached), Chris Wyles (Saracens).
