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USA Eagles Men’s Sevens Head Coach Mike Friday has announced his travelling squad for the upcoming NACRA Championships this weekend in North Carolina. The winner of the tournament grabbing a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Friday has chosen thirteen players to travel, but will have to cut the squad down to twelve players before the start of the tournament.
With Canada bolstering their roster for the tournament, Friday looked to do the same as both Chris Wyles from Saracens and Brett Thompson, formerly of Edinburgh, return to the sevens roster for the event. Aside from those two changes, the roster is very close to the one that won the London 7s to finish the HSBC World Series season.
“Thompson has been back with us for the last four months, so he is fully integrated into the squad and has been working hard and understands the culture and environment he is a part of,” Friday said in a press release from USA Rugby. “’Wylesy’ knows what is required in a professional culture and his character is one that is personable as well as competitive. He is a hard-working bloke who has humility, so he is well-suited to the squad.”
Back to health, Zach Test also returns after missing the London tournament with an injury he picked up a week earlier in Scotland. Test’s return will be a boost to a squad that built confidence in winning without him in the lineup in London.
After finishing the World Series at an all-time high of 6th place, the pressure is on for the squad to qualify for the Olympics this weekend and avoid the dreaded repechage qualification tournament which should have some very capable opponents. The USA’s arch-rival Canada should be the only team standing in the way as the two North-American teams are going to be on a crash course this weekend. Canada finished the World Series season in 9th place, but finished strong reaching the Cup Round in four of their last five tournaments.
While Canada is going to be on the USA’s mind all weekend, the Eagles will be careful not to overlook their pool opponents Mexico, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Vincent. While none of the nations pose a threat on paper, the last thing the USA wants is to let any of those sides throw a wrench in their plans.
“We are focused on what we need to be and be better at to give us the best opportunity to succeed,” Friday said in the USA Rugby release. “We will work hard on the pitch and in the classroom so we are prepared.
“All the boys are focused on trying to make the team successful and represent the shirt and country in the way the people of the U.S. would want to be represented.”
The USA kicks off their NACRA tournament Saturday when they take on St. Vincent.
Men’s Eagles Sevens NACRA Travelling Squad
Nate Augspurger, Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Garrett Bender, Andrew Durutalo, Madison Hughes, Martin Iosefo, Carlin Isles, Folau Niua, Zack Test, Brett Thompson, Maka Unufe, Chris Wyles
