Eagles name 13 uncapped players in 41-man longlist

USA coach Gary Gold has named a squad of 41 players in his first Men’s Eagles squad since Rugby World Cup 2019. Included are 19 of the 32 players who traveled to Japan, with 13 of the 31 selected from Major League Rugby uncapped.

First time selections include a trio of NOLA forwards in loosehead prop Matt Harmon and flankers Andrew Guerra and Moni Tonga’uiha. Scrumhalf Michael Baska and outside center Mika Kruse are picked from Utah. The league-leading LA Giltinis supply flyhalf Luke Carty and wingers Ryan James and John Ryberg.

Other newcomers are ATL scrumhalf Ryan Rees, Free Jacks center Harry Barlow, Austin wing Conner Mooneyham, and Old Glory fullback Mike Dabulas. Seattle captain and No8 Riekert Hattingh was part of the Eagles long-list for the World Cup but remains uncapped.

Several players were ruled out due to injury, most notably Harlequins center Paul Lasike, New Zealand-based flanker Tony Lamborn, and San Diego pair Nate Augspurger and Dylan Audsley. US-eligible Free Jacks openside Joe Johnston was not available for selection.

Joining Gold as an Assistant Coach is former San Diego Legion supremo Rob Hoadley. Ex-Eagles captain and Saracens winger Chris Wyles will also help coach the side.

The Eagles are set to play away tests against England on July 4 followed by Ireland on July 10. A 30-man traveling squad will be named in late June.

LH PROP
David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR)*
Matt Harmon (NOLA Gold)
Chance Wenglewski (Rugby ATL)*

HOOKER
Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby United New York)*
Kapeli Pifeleti (Saracens, UK)
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Old Glory DC)
Joe Taufete’e (Lyon, FR)*

TH PROP
Titi Lamositele (Montpellier, FR)*
Paul Mullen (Utah Warriors)*
Dino Waldren (NOLA Gold)

LOCK
Nate Brakeley (Rugby United New York)*
Nick Civetta (Rugby United New York)*
Siaosi Mahoni (San Diego Legion)
Greg Peterson (Newcastle Falcons, UK)*

BACK ROW
Malon Al-Jiboori (Ealing Trailfinders, UK)*
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold)*
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC)
Hanco Germishuys (Rugby United New York)*
Andrew Guerra (NOLA Gold)
Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)
Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold)
Psalm Wooching (San Diego Legion)

SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Utah Warriors)
Nick Boyer (Houston SaberCats)
Ruben de Haas (Austin Gilgronis)*
Ryan Rees (Rugby ATL)

FLYHALF
Luke Carty (LA Giltinis)
Will Hooley (Saracens, UK)*
AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks, UK)*
Will Magie (Austin Gilgronis)*

MIDFIELD
Harry Barlow (New England Free Jacks)
Marcel Brache (Western Force, AU)*
Bryce Campbell (Austin Gilgronis)*
Mika Kruse (Utah Warriors)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Mike Dabulas (Old Glory DC)
Ryan James (LA Giltinis)
Ryan Matyas (San Diego Legion)
Conner Mooneyham (Austin Gilgronis)
Gannon Moore (Silverdale, NZ)
John Ryberg (LA Giltinis)
Mike Te’o (Utah Warriors)*

*RWC 2019 selection