USA Players in the English Premiership – All-Time XV

The English Premiership has been home to many USA rugby players over the years. The current version of the competition has been in place since 2003, although prior versions see the competition dating back much further. The many forms of the competition have involved foreign players, including USA Rugby names. The following players are ARN’s selection of the All-Time XV of USA Players in England.

 

1 – Mike MacDonald (Worcester Warriors, Leeds Carnegie)
Californian Mike MacDonald was a mainstay for the USA Eagles and also as a professional player in England. He earned 67 caps for the USA, an amazing number considering it was well before the era of the Americas Rugby Championship. He played in England from 2005-2012, playing for two different teams in the Premiership.

2 – Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors)
Hooker Joe Taufete’e is the world record holder for test tries by a front-rower. The 2019-2020 season was his fourth with the Worcester Warriors. It was also his last as he will play for Lyon next season in the Top 14. In doing so, a new public will be able to watch the skills of the 123 kg (272 lbs) product of Santa Ana, California.

3 – Titi Lamositele (Saracens)
Few players have appeared in two RWC tournaments at the age of 24. Fewer still have done so as front-rowers. From Bellingham, Washington, Titi Lamositele was playing test rugby as a teenager and made his debut for Saracens in March 2015 as a 20-year-old. While at the club, Lamositele has made 64 appearances and has won both the English Premiership and the European Champions Cup. Next season he will be playing for Montpellier in the Top 14.

4 – Samu Manoa (Northampton Saints)
From 2011-2015 English Premiership viewers were treated to a legitimate hard man in defense in Samu Manoa. The Californian made 122 appearances for the Northampton Saints and was a leading figure in the 2014 side which won the English Premiership. He departed the club for Toulon in 2015, doing so after that year’s RWC. He had the honor of captaining his country against South Africa in the tournament. He retired from test duty before RWC 2019, but remains active now playing Major League Rugby.

5 – Luke Gross (Harlequins, Rotherham, Newcastle Falcons, Doncaster)
62 time capped Luke Gross had a busy career as a professional rugby player. The Decateur, Indiana native played in multiple divisions in England. In the English Premiership itself he made 47 appearances. Despite his test career concluding in 2003, Gross would play in the English Premiership until 2006. For the Eagles he earned 62 caps, seven of which came in RWCs 1999 and 2003.

6 – Todd Clever (Newcastle Falcons)
Former USA captain Todd Clever was a busy professional player. He played in New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and England. He was with the Newcastle Falcons in the 2015-2016 season where he made seven appearances. This contributed to him adding to his USA cap record of 76 test matches. The total is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.

7 – Andrew Durutalo (Worcester Warriors, Ealing Trailfinders)
The New York City born Andrew Durutalo spent four seasons in England. These included playing in both the first and second divisions. He joined the Eailing Trailfinders after impressing in Super Rugby for the Sunwolves. Cam Dolan is another USA back-rower to have spent time in England.

8 – Dan Lyle (Bath, Leicester Tigers)
Arguably the greatest USA player of all-time, Dan Lyle was club captain of Bath in 2001-2002. His professional career was from 1996-2004. The native of Louisville, Kentucky went to professional rugby after turning down a contract with the Minnesota Vikings NFL side.  He made over 125 appearances for Bath and was a European Champion with the club in 1998.

9 – Tim Usasz (Nottingham)
The USA’s replacement scrum-half at RWC 2011 was Tim Usasz. From 2007-2011 he was busy in England’s second division, making over 50 appearances for the team. The Eagles starting scrum-half was Mike Petri who joined the Sale Sharks only to never play for them. RWC 2007 scrum-half Chad Erskine also played in England, doing so for Waterloo.

10 – AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks)
Former Life University fly half, AJ MacGinty has been a top performer in Europe. He was a Pro 14 champion with Connacht and he has also impressed with the Sale Sharks. He joined the Sale Sharks in 2016 and has thus far made 46 appearances. His return has been 377 points, notably more so than fellow Eagle Mike Hercus who also played multiple RWCs for the USA and was a Sale Shark.

11 – Boyd Morrison (Richmond)
A player from an all-together different era is Boyd Morrison. The product of Boston RFC earned two caps for the USA Eagles in 1979-1980. This made his a pioneer and it was furthered by his time spent playing in England for one of the former big names of the amateur days, Richmond.

12 – Paul Lasike (Harlequins)
Formerly of the Chicago Bears, Paul Lasike’s arrival in professional rugby began in the USA and is better than ever now in the English Premiership. The 29-year-old joined the Harlequins in late 2018 from the Utah Warriors. He has fit in very well in England, scoring three tries in eight appearances in the current season since RWC 2019. In Japan he played in three games for the Eagles, taking his career caps up to 19.

13 – Paul Emerick (Wasps)
When few USA players held down professional contracts, Paul Emerick was an exception. The man from Emmetsburg, Iowa played in England, Italy, Ireland, and Wales. His time in the English Premiership was with the Wasps, where he ended his professional career. The year 2012 saw Emerick also concluding his long test career. From 2003-2012 he earned 53 caps and played in RWCs 2003, 2007 and 2011.

14 – Blaine Scully (Leicester Tigers)
The USA’s captain at RWC 2019 was Californian Blaine Scully. The Sacramento native played his final games of rugby at the tournament. In doing son he ended a career which included 54 caps and playing for professional teams in England and Wales. In the former he played for the Leicester Tigers from 2013-2015. During his two seasons with Leicester he made 24 appearances and scored three tries.

15 – Chris Wyles (Northampton Saints, Saracens)
With 255 appearances for Saracens, Chris Wyles is among the busiest of all players in the recently completed decade. The former USA captain scored two tries for the club in the 2018 English Premiership Final. Victory in the final saw Wyles winning his sixth title with Saracens. He won the English Premiership in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018; and the European Champions Cup in 2016, and 2017.