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USA Rugby are hoping to secure a test match against South Africa this summer. Head coach Gary Gold revealed to RugbyPass that the idea has been proposed for the Eagles to face the Springboks as a warm-up for the defending World Cup champions prior to their series against the British & Irish Lions, which remains without a confirmed schedule or even host country.
If agreed, the Eagles would travel to either South Africa or the UK for the match. Details are subject to the finalization of the Lions Tour. The COVID-19 pandemic has all but ruled out South Africa as a host for the traditional home nations tour, with the UK and Australia emerging as favorites to host though some have called for a postponement to 2022.
Gold also confirmed that the Eagles are due to play England on July 11. The USA would normally be the home side during the mid-year test window but the current domestic situation may hamper USAR’s ability to host the game financially with no guarantees on allowed attendance.
The proposed tests would also creates a potential conflict with Major League Rugby, whose regular season will not conclude until July 18. A number of established Eagles are based in Europe but some players may be forced to choose between the test matches and their club side at a critical time on the calendar. Under normal conditions the MLR season would have concluded by July 1.
