Eagles make changes to November tour group

After suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of the New Zealand Māori in Chicago, the Eagles have made a number of roster moves prior to departure for their three-match European tour. Nine players have dropped out with two uncapped players called into the squad.

Nate Augspurger and Luke Hume were late scratches ahead of Saturday’s match and neither will make the trip with quadricep and hamstring injuries respectively. Front row trio Alex Maughan, Tony Purpura, and Chance Wenglewski miss out as do second row Nate Brakeley and utility back Mika Kruse, while Ben Landry has returned to Ealing.

Two further players are under an injury cloud. Shaun Davies is feeling the affects of being body-slammed to the ground by Māori lock Pari Pari Parkinson and remains under evaluation with a call to be made later in the week. Eric Fry is set to miss out after damaging a knee playing for Vannes in their Pro D2 fixture against Carcassonne on October 26.

Receiving his first senior call-up is Life West scrumhalf Devereaux Ferris. The New Zealand native was part of the USA Select XV squad in the Americas Pacific Challenge. Also arriving is 18-year-old Toulouse prop David Ainu’u, the Junior All-American star who was part of the Senior Eagles training squad in June.

First up for the USA on their tour is Samoa at the neutral venue of San Sebastián, Spain. Along with the two new players the Eagles will be able to call upon overeas professionals Titi Lamositele, Joe Taufete’e, Samu Manoa, David Tameilau, Bryce Campbell, Paul Lasike, Marcel Brache, and captain Blaine Scully.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR), Eric Fry (Vannes, FR), Titi Lamositele (Saracens, UK), Paul Mullen (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Dino Waldren (London Scottish, UK), Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby United New York), James Hilterbrand (Manly Marlins, AU), Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors, UK), Nick Civetta (Doncaster Knights, UK), Samu Manoa (Cardiff Blues, UK), Greg Peterson (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Hanco Germishuys (unattached), Tony Lamborn (Southland Stags, NZ), John Quill (Glendale Raptors), Psalm Wooching (unattached), Cam Dolan (Nottingham, UK), David Tameilau (Glasgow Warriors, UK)

BACKS
Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors), Ruben de Haas (Free State Cheetahs, SA), Devereaux Ferris (Life West), Will Hooley (Bedford Blues, UK), Will Magie (Glendale Raptors), Bryce Campbell (London Irish, UK), Paul Lasike (Harlequins, UK), Gannon Moore (North Harbour, NZ), Marcel Brache (Western Force, AU), Ryan Matyas (San Diego Legion), Tim Maupin (New Orleans Gold), Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues, UK)