Madison Hughes has returned to captain the USA Eagles 7’s. He is one of three high profile returning players, the others being Carlin Isles and Brett Thompson. The trio will play for their country at the upcoming HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016-17 in Wellington, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia.
In the absence of Hughes the captain’s arm-band went to Perry Baker for the Cape Town 7’s. The USA finished in 6th position at that event with Baker scoring five tries. In doing so he overtook Carlin Isles to set a new USA 7’s try-scoring record of 86.
Isles was the leading try-scorer at the 2016 Olympic Games. The Wellington 7’s, though, will be his first appearance of the 2016-2017 season for the Eagles.
Thompson missed out on playing in Rio de Janeiro. A late injury concern saw him forced out. He is now back to join Danny Barrett and Andrew Durutalo, giving Mike Friday experienced forwards options.
USA ROSTER
Carlin Isles, Matai Leuta, Danny Barrett, Brett Thompson, Don Pati, Andrew Durutalo, Folau Niua, Kevon Williams, Stephen Tomasin, Madison Hughes (captain), Perry Baker, Martin Iosefo