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A mix of Major League Rugby players and collegiate standouts will form the USA’s development squad in the Americas Pacific Challenge. Leading the side will be Mike Tolkin, Head Coach of the Eagles at Rugby World Cup 2015. Officially the team will be once again known as the Selects, though USA Rugby intends to switch the name to the Falcons in 2022.
Of the 29 players named, all but six are aged 23 years or under. The exceptions are NOLA prop Brian Nault, second rows Charlie Hewitt and Ben Mitchell from New York and San Diego respectively, lock or blindside flanker Kyle Breytenbach of AG Rugby, Old Glory flanker Cory Daniel, and Free Jacks scrumhalf Sean Yacoubian.
Hewitt has previously played for England u18s and Free Jacks winger Harry Barlow for the same country’s u19 side. Yacoubian appeared for Scotland in the 2014 u20 Six Nations, and Bailey Wilson for the Scottish u20s against a Club XV in 2018 before captaining the USA u20s the following year. Mitchell has represented Irish Universities.
Two players from the squad come from outside MLR or college rugby. Life West prop Alex Lopeti and Rhino Academy lock Javon Camp-Villalovos. Lopeti is a Junior All-American and both are part of the u23 USA high performance program. Other USA u20 selects include Nault, Jared Miller, Justin Johnson, Karl Keane, Patrick Madden, Sam Walsh, and Jack Wendling. The latter recently made his World Sevens debut in Vancouver.
Four were selected in the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, including both hookers – Utah’s Joey Backe and NOLA’s George Sharpe. Free Jacks center Cael Hodgson and Dallas outside back Eric Naposki are the others. All were picked in the first round, the latter the top overall selection.
The Selects will face off against the Argentina XV, Brazil ‘A’, and Chile ‘A’ between October 22 and 30. Broadcast details are to be confirmed prior to the tournament.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Alex Lopeti (Life West), Brian Nault (NOLA Gold), Cam Nelson (Central Washington), Joey Backe (Utah Warriors), George Sharpe (NOLA Gold), Elijah Hayes (Utah Warriors), Jared Miller (Life Running Eagles), Ivan Pula (Central Washington), Kyle Breytenbach (Austin Gilgronis), Javon Camp-Villalovos (Rhinos Rugby Academy), Charlie Hewitt (Rugby United New York), Ben Mitchell (San Diego Legion), Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC), Justin Johnson (New England Free Jacks), Mike Matarazzo (Dallas Jackals), Colin Turner (Davenport Panthers), Bailey Wilson (Utah Warriors)
BACKS
Karl Keane (Saint Mary’s Gaels), Sean Yacoubian (New England Free Jacks), Shane Barry (UCLA Bruins), Patrick Madden (San Diego Legion), Sam Walsh (Cal Golden Bears), Cael Hodgson (New England Free Jacks), Tiai Vavao (Central Washington), Jack Wendling (Central Washington), Harry Barlow (New England Free Jacks), Eric Naposki (Dallas Jackals), Nolan Tuamoheloa (Pathway 404), Owen Sheehy (Old Glory DC)
