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The USA Hawks will play the first of four home games at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon. All will be against South American opposition, with Brazil’s Cobras the first to arrive.
A development side comprised largely of young Major League Rugby talent, the Hawks completed a three-match tour to Chile and Argentina last month. All three were defeats but the matches provided valuable game time for the budding professionals.
Head Coach Brendan Keane has reinforced his roster with three players who did not make the trip south. NOLA Gold provide winger Ani Mteto and midfielder Aaron Matthews, the latter fresh off a replacement appearance against Seattle this past weekend. Also joining is former Davenport flanker Joshua McAdam, who is a surprise choice at outside center. He has most recently been training with the Chicago Hounds.
New York Ironworkers front rower Doyle Hedgepeth starts at loosehead prop having played hooker for the previous two Hawks matches. Chase Suznevich, a local product from the Queen’s University of Charlotte, switches from center to flyhalf with Utah’s Coleson Warner assuming the fullback position.
After a rough start to their Super Rugby Americas campaign, Cobras have bounced back with two straight wins against Chile’s Selknam and most recently the American Raptors at Infinity Park. Josh Reeves has named a strong lineup against the Hawks including four invitational players.
France-based prop Caique Silva brings 29 tests of experience to the front row, and in the midfield are Lorenzo Massari and Antonio Zanatta. The latter is uncapped but Massari is a Tupis regular with 10 caps. Both play professionally in Italy. Brazilian-eligible Dominic Oliveira plays for Life University and has been selected as one of two lock replacements.
There are two Colombian internationals in the side, flanker Diver Ceballos and winger Alain Altahona. Back row Donnacha Byrne has represented Ireland at u20 level. Argentina provides tighthead prop Bautista Vidal, reserve lock Lucio Anconeteni, and utility back Nicolás Cantarutti.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 7pm Brasilia. Partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures are expected. There is no live broadcast scheduled but admission to the stadium is free.
USA HAWKS
1 Doyle Hedgepeth, 2 Sam Faoagali, 3 Oliver Kane, 4 Lucas Gramlick, 5 Matt Gelhaus, 6 Marnus Spangenberg (capt.), 7 Aidan Christians, 8 Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi, 9 Tai Kauwe, 10 Chase Suznevich, 11 Ani Mteto, 12 Aaron Matthews, 13 Joshua McAdam, 14 Jason Tidwell, 15 Coleson Warner
Replacements: 16 Hunter Blanchard, 17 Alex Lopeti, 18 Trent Rogers, 19 Tristan Cole, 20 Bill Whiteside, 21 Evan Conlon, 22 Kyle Fulton, 23 Christian Olney
COBRAS
1 Caíque Silva, 2 Diego Vidal, 3 Bautista Vidal, 4 Gabriel Paganini (capt.), 5 Cléber Dias, 6 Diver Ceballos, 7 Luccas Adib, 8 Donnacha Byrne, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Alain Altahona, 12 Lorenzo Massari, 13 Antonio Zanatta, 14 Sérgio Luna, 15 Guilherme Coghetto
Replacements: 16 Brendon Alves, 17 Leonardo de Souza, 18 Levy Marinho, 19 Lucio Anconetani, 20 Dominic Oliveira, 21 Adrio de Melo, 22 Felipe Gonçalves, 23 Nicolás Cantarutti
Date: Thursday, April 6
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 18:00 local (19:00 Brasilia)
Broadcasts: n/a
