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Recent Major League Rugby signings have revealed several players eligible for the USA that may have been previously unknown. Players like Gordon Fullerton, Thomas Morani, and Zack Godfrey were signed up in 2020. In 2021 we can add James King, Luke Carty, Joe Johnston, Harrison Boyle, Harry Barlow, Joel Miranda, and most recently Benjamín Bonasso to the list.
Finding the next potential Eagles candidates from abroad is an ongoing endeavor that occasionally turns up World Cup selects like Tony Lamborn and Will Hooley. A little over four years ago we identified eight such individuals, two of whom have since been capped by the Eagles.
Below we take a look at 10 professionals abroad who while decidedly not American, are eligible to play for the Eagles under World Rugby regulations. Left out are uncapped exports who are products of the USA system, most notably Munster tighthead prop Roman Salanoa and Perpignan lock Nafi Ma’afu.
Jeremy Loughman – Loosehead Prop – Munster
A repeat choice on account of him still being uncaptured. The former Ireland u20 select is now 25 years old and has switched to Munster from Leinster. Loughman is a quality player but is stuck behind internationals David Kilcoyne and James Cronin in the provincial pecking order, and youngster Josh Wycherley is tipped to be the next to year the Ireland no1 shirt from Munster. Born in Reno, Nevada, Loughman might one day opt for the Eagles but his current contract – like that of Salanoa – requires him to remain Ireland-eligible.
Shilo Klein – Hooker – Canterbury
USA-born but New Zealand-raised, Klein represented the Baby Blacks at the 2019 World Rugby u20 Championship. He has also been part of Canterbury’s squad in the Mitre 10 Cup for the past two seasons. In 2020 he appeared in nine games including four starts. With time on his side the 21-year-old is surely targeting the All Black jersey but he will have stiff competition from the likes of Asafo Aumua, Ricky Jackson, and Brodie McAlister. The latter has been preferred in the Crusaders squad leaving Klein without a Super Rugby deal.
Joe McCarthy – Lock – Leinster
If Rugby United New York are on the look-out for more eligibles, look no further than Manhattan-born McCarthy. The 6’6″ (1.98m) second row played for Ireland in the 2020 u20 Six Nations as a replacement and was well-positioned to make the u20 Championship had it not been cancelled. At just 19 he has another year of eligibility at the u20 level and is surely looking towards playing test rugby for Ireland, but perhaps a loan stint in MLR could be on the cards before he pushes for a regular Leinster spot.
Sean O’Brien – Flanker – Leinster
McCarthy’s Leinster academy teammate, a year older, who happens to share the same name three other Irish pros. The 6’4″ (1.93m) blindside started all three games that Ireland played – and won – in the 2020 u20 Six Nations and certainly would have featured prominently in the u20 Championship. Having been born in Pittsburgh he is eligible for the Eagles but is seemingly on course for test honors at the Aviva Stadium. Perhaps the pair could feature in MLR 2022 before returning home to Dublin.
Nick McCarthy – Scrumhalf – Munster
Ruben de Haas is earmarked for the starting Eagles shirt but there isn’t huge depth at scrumhalf. McCarthy was the starting No9 for two years with the Ireland u20s, both in the Six Nations and the World Rugby Championship. He hasn’t quite been able to break through at the professional level, however, playing a reserve role first for Leinster and now at Munster. Like Loughman, McCarthy has been overtaken by a younger prospect in Craig Casey and at 25 years old born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, might just be tempted to look at his options elsewhere.
Jack Walsh – Flyhalf – Exeter Chiefs
Florida-born, Australia-raised, and English-qualified. Walsh represented Australia at u18 level and captained their age-grade sevens side. He was part of the Waratahs academy program via Manly Marlins but when a Super Rugby contract didn’t arise Walsh looked north. Now just days removed from his 21st birthday, he made two Premiership appearances as a replacement in October but is still on the fringes of the squad. Where his potential international future lies remains to be seen.
Pasqualle Dunn – Center – Kintetsu Liners
Briefly mentioned in our 2016 article, Dunn is someone who seems to be a prime candidate for an MLR appearance. Eligible for the USA through his mother, the 26-year-old is a hard-charging inside center who came through the New Zealand system before a spell in the Leicester Tigers academy, and subsequently two seasons playing rugby league for Doncaster. Dunn has played Mitre 10 Cup rugby for Auckland and more recently Hawke’s Bay, and is currently preparing for his second campaign with Kintetsu in Japan’s Top Challenge League.
Andre Dunn – Center – Oyonnax
The younger brother of Pasqualle, 20-year-old Andre also spent time with Leicester before switching to the Oyonnax academy program. He is capable of playing flyhalf though is more often seen in the midfield. Dunn co-captained Langley School in Norfolk and earned Tigers Academy Try of the Year honors in 2018 for this impressive effort. Also eligible for the trifecta of New Zealand, England, and the USA, he could be part of a package deal if an MLR team came calling.
Taju Atta – Wing – unattached
A missing man at the moment, the 21-year-old has been mysteriously absent from rugby news for the last year. The USA-born flyer was still just 17 when he debuted for Wasps against Ospreys in the 2017-18 Anglo-Welsh Cup. Atta scored two tries in the A-league win over Newcastle a year later and all indications were that a Premiership contract was not far in the future. He was named in the 2019-20 Wasps academy squad and played for Loughborough University, but hasn’t been heard from since.
Rufus McLean – Fullback – Glasgow Warriors
Likely destined for Scotland honors but one worth keeping an eye on nonetheless. The New England Free Jacks might be particularly intrigued given the 20-year-old is originally from Boston. McLean is a talented outside back with the pace and footballing ability to play across the back three. Selected for the Great Britain u18 sevens side in 2018, McLean has featured in the past two u20 Six Nations tourneys and just yesterday made his professional debut for Glasgow against Edinburgh.
