Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The USA’s roster for the Americas Rugby Championship has been named in the wake of the announcement regarding the Eagles’ Coaching Staff. The squad is highlighted by the availability of a number of overseas professionals and augmented by a mix of young prospects. With overseas professionals expected to not be made available for the ARC, the addition of players like Cam Dolan, Eric Fry, Taku Ngwenya, Titi Lamositele, Greg Petersen, and Blaine Scully is a bonus. Even if most of the Eagle pros are only being made available for the Argentina match.
The big name back in the mix is Todd Clever of the Newcastle Falcons. Clever was dropped as as Captain of the Eagles over the Summer and then suspended in a cloud of controversy. After missing the World Cup, Clever signed with Newcastle and has worked his way back into Eagle contention. Clever has been made available against Argentina, Canada, and Chile.
A player to keep an eye on is scrumhalf Tom Bliss. There had been calls to bring Bliss into Eagles’ camp for the past couple of years, but the Wasps’ Academy Player never got the call. With the battle wide open for the heir to Mike Petri’s role as Eagle scrumhalf, the ARC creates a huge opportunity for Bliss, Niku Kruger, and Mike Te’o to step into the role.
One of the more interesting selections to camp is Australian front rower James Hilterbrand. Often linked to the USA in discussions regarding Eagle eligible players, but never capped, Hilterbrand is a seasoned professional having played for the Western Force in Super Rugby and Edinburgh in the Pro 12. At age 26, Hilterbrand is young enough to make a run at the 2019 World Cup for the Eagles.
The USA Sevens player pool was also tapped with Patrick Blair, Nic Edwards, Mike Te’o, Kingley McGowan, and Aladdin Schirmer all being named to the roster.
Perhaps the biggest question mark going into the camp is who will end up playing flyhalf. With first-choice Eagle flyhalf AJ MacGinty playing for Connacht in Ireland and Shalom Suniula not named to the roster, it creates another void for a young player to step up to the plate.
While the squad is bolstered by the overseas pros for the Argentina match, the bulk of the tournament should be played by a young group. Of the 37 players named to the roster, only 15 have been capped by the USA. This is clearly a nod from the new coaching staff showing that the preparation for 2019 has already begun.
The USA opens up their ARC campaign on Saturday February 6th against Argentina at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.
USA Eagles – Americas Rugby Championship Roster
Jake Anderson (Olympic Club)
Chris Baumann (Austin Rugby Club)
Demecus Beach (Life University)
James Bird (Old Blue of New York)
Patrick Blair (Men’s Eagles Sevens)
Tom Bliss (London Wasps)
Todd Clever (Newcastle Falcons)
Cameron Dolan (Cardiff Blues)
Nic Edwards (Men’s Eagles Sevens)
Jean Pierre Eloff (Chicago Lions RFC)
Cameron Falcon (New Orleans Rugby Football Club)
Lemoto Filikitonga (Metropolis RFC)
Eric Fry (Newcastle Falcons)
Mike Garrity (Seattle Saracens)
Hanco Germishuys (Glendale Raptors)
Alec Gletzer (Olympic Club)
James Hilterbrand (Unattached)
Luke Hume (Old Blue of New York)
Olive Kilifi (Seattle Saracens)
Niku Kruger (Glendale Raptors)
Titi Lamositele (Saracens)
Ben Landry (Seattle Saracens)
Chad London (Glendale Raptors)
Ryan Matyas (Old Blue of New York)
Kingsley McGowan (Trinity College Dublin)
Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique)
Brodie Orth (Kansas City Blues)
Greg Peterson (Glasgow Warriors)
Aladdin Schirmer (Central Washington University)
Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues)
Michelangelo Sosene-Feagai (Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club)
Tim Stanfill (Seattle Saracens)
David Tameilau (Life West Gladiators)
Joseph Taufete’e (Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club)
Mike Te’o (Men’s Eagles Sevens)
Bruce Thomas (San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club)
Matt Trouville (Seattle Saracens)
Men’s Eagles – Americas Rugby Championship Coaching Staff
John Mitchell
Phil Greening – Assistant Coach / Interim Head Coach
Marty Veale – Assistant Coach
Rob Hoadley – Assistant Coach
David Williams – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Paul Goulding – Video Analyst
Sean Lindersmith – Team Manager
Men’s Eagles – Americas Rugby Championship 2016
v. Argentina – Saturday, Feb. 6 @ 8:10 p.m. ET – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas)
v. Canada – Saturday, Feb. 13 @ 7:10 p.m. ET – Dell Diamond (Austin, Texas)
v. Chile – Saturday, Feb. 20 @ 6:10 p.m. ET – Lockhart Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
v. Brazil – Saturday, Feb. 27 @ 3:10 p.m. ET – Arena Barueri (São Paolo, Brazil)
v. Uruguay – Saturday, March 5 @ 4:10 p.m. ET – Charrua Stadium (Montevideo, Uruguay)
