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Both the Men’s and Women’s Eagles Sevens sides will be heading to England this weekend to take part in exhibition tournaments. The Men will be playing in both the AFI 7s and the new RugbyX event, with the Women also competing in the latter. RugbyX is an experimental format that will be played on a half-size pitch with no set pieces or goal kicking involved.
Mike Friday has named a squad of 16 players for the first preseason action of what is an Olympic year. Harley Wheeler is the only uncapped player named, while there are returns for Will Holder and Maka Unufe. The latter missed the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign while serving a suspension after testing positive for a banned substance that was later found in a dietary supplement.
First choice trio Madison Hughes, Ben Pinkelman, and Martin Iosefo are rested. Pinkelman and Iosefo were part of the Rugby World Cup squad in Japan, while Hughes was part of the extended training group and played during the Pacific Nations Cup. Folau Niua remains in long-term recovery from a serious leg break suffered at the Paris tourney in June.
Coaching the Women’s Eagles will Warren Abrahams, recently added as an assistant with the senior program under Chris Brown. He brings a mixed side that will be co-captained by Alev Kelter and Kayla Canett in the absence of regular leaders Lauren Doyle, Abby Gustaitis, and Nicole Heavirland.
For the Women, the RugbyX tournament will be a chance for some younger players to see game time while the experienced members of the group will be staying sharp ahead of their second stop on the World Series in Dubai. The USA were victorious in their first official tournament of the year, winning the Cup Final at Glendale just two weeks ago.
MEN’S EAGLES SEVENS
Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Pat Blair, Ben Broselle, Maceo Brown, Naima Fuala’au, Will Holder, Carlin Isles, Matai Leuta, Cody Melphy, Joe Schroeder, Stephen Tomasin, Marcus Tupuola, Maka Unufe, Harley Wheeler, Kevon Williams
WOMEN’S EAGLES SEVENS
Cheta Emba, Jazmine Gray, Eti Haungatau, Alev Kelter, Kayla Canett, Emily Henrich, Kayla Lawson, Kasey McCravey, Saskia Morgan, Alena Olsen, Stephanie Rovetti, Naya Tapper
AFI 7s – Oct 25-26
RugbyX – Oct 29
