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Pat Blair will captain the USA Falcons on their two-week South American tour as they take part in the Sudamérica Sevens series. The 27-year-old Old Aztecs forward has represented the senior Eagles in both 7s and XVs, most recently during the North American leg of the 2016-17 HSBC Sevens Series.
Blair is one of four players capped on the senior circuit, the others Anthony Welmers, Connor Wallace-Sims, and promising youngster Naima Fuala’au.
Two members of this year’s u20 All-Americans are named in Ben Broselle and New Zealand-based Sam Walsh. Collegiate football convert Devin Short will make his USA debut and makes it four 19-year-olds in the squad along with Fuala’au.
There will be no shortage of size up in the team with Alex Elkins, Siale Maka, and Anthony Salaber earning selection. All three play in the backs in XVs but could see time in the forwards. The 1.95m (6’5″) Salaber was a standout with the UCal Golden Bears while Elkins was recently named in the Eagles squad for the Americas Rugby Champsionship. USA Select XV scrumhalf Nick Boyer rounds out the side, another with the physical strength to play several positions.
The first stop on the tour is Punta del Este where the USA will face hosts Uruguay, France, and Brazil on Saturday’s opening day. A live stream will not be available in the USA but viewers in South America can watch on ESPN3 and ESPN Play. The tour concludes in Chile next weekend at Viña del Mar.
USA FALCONS 7s
Pat Blair (capt., Old Aztecs), Nick Boyer (Glendale Raptors), Ben Broselle (UCLA), Alex Elkins (unattached), Naima Fuala’au (Life West), Siale Maka (Denver Barbarians), Anthony Salaber (unattached), Devin Short (Las Vegas Blackhawks), Sam Walsh (Scots College, NZ), Zach Webber (BYU), Connor Wallace-Sims (Old Blue), Anthony Welmers (Grand Rapids Gazelles)
Head Coach – JD Stephenson
Assistant Coach – Adriaan Ferris
Physiotherapist – Ben Schuler
