Leinster scrumhalf among 19 uncapped names in Eagles squad

Scott Lawrence has named his extended USA Eagles player pool for the test series to be played in August against Romania, Portugal, and Georgia. Included in the 54-man squad are 19 uncapped players, with Michigan-born Leinster scrumhalf Nick McCarthy one of them.

McCarthy is one of seven players who are currently based overseas, among them Toulouse prop David Ainu’u and Bristol flyhalf AJ MacGinty. Notably there remains no sign of Montpellier prop Titi Lamositele, who won the most recent of his 32 caps at the 2019 World Cup.

Biarritz lock Nafi Ma’afu is one of seven players listed as injured and unavailable for selection. The others are back row quartet Ben Bonasso, Cory Daniel, Jason Damm, and Hanco Germishuys, midfielder Paul Lasike, and utility back Mike Dabulas. Bonasso returned to the pitch for New York this past weekend but it seems will be given a break during the offseason instead of traveling to Europe.

Ironworkers front rower Kaleb Geiger is named as a tighthead prop, having played the position in just three games after switching from hooker. Dallas lock Sam Golla is rewarded for his strong form in his first season as a pro, as is Old Glory’s Collin Grosse who is named at his preferred spot of flanker despite filling in at lock for his club. Similarly Chicago’s Luke White is among the loose forward group having until recently played exclusively as a lock or prop in Major League Rugby.

Two players from the American Raptors of Super Rugby Americas are selected. Flyhalf or fullback Line Latu is named after representing the USA Falcons in Uruguay last year, along with 19-year-old center Aki Pulu. There is no place for Falcons back row Ronan Murphy or once-capped winger Ryan James.

Also new to the Eagles coaching setup are former All Blacks center Alama Ieremia and ex-England No8 Nick Easter. Ieremia will take charge of the attack under Interim Head Coach Lawrence, while Easter will oversee the forwards and defense. A recent leadership and selection camp included Eagles alumni Dave Hodges, Alatini Saulala, Blaine Scully, Kyle Sumsion and Chris Wyles, along with current players AJ MacGinty, Nate Augspurger, Tavite Lopeti, Dylan Fawsitt and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz.

Lawrence has noted that several players from outside the group remain in consideration and could yet be included in his plans. A trio of US-eligible flankers might be of interest – Joe Johnston from the Free Jacks, Christian Poidevin from the Legion, and new arrival Niko Jones of Old Glory.

*denotes uncapped

LOOSEHEAD PROP
David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR)
Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC)
Faka’osi Pifeleti (San Diego Legion)
Chance Wenglewski (New York Ironworkers)

HOOKER
Dylan Fawsitt (New York Ironworkers)
Peter Malcolm (Seattle Seawolves)
*Pat O’Toole (NOLA Gold)
Kapeli Pifeleti (Saracens, UK)
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Agen, FR)
Joe Taufete’e (Houston SaberCats)

TIGHTHEAD PROP
*Kaleb Geiger (New York Ironworkers)
Angus MacLellan (Utah Warriors)
Paul Mullen (Utah Warriors)
Nathan Sylvia (San Diego Legion)

SECOND ROW
Nate Brakeley (New York Ironworkers)
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold)
*Sam Golla (Dallas Jackals)
Ben Landry (Seattle Seawolves)
Siaosi Mahoni (Houston SaberCats)
*Ben Mitchell (Seattle Seawolves)
Greg Peterson (Newcastle Falcons, UK)

BACK ROW
Malon Al-Jiboori (Houston SaberCats)
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC)
*Collin Grosse (Old Glory DC)
Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)
Vili Helu (Rugby ATL)
*Keni Nasoqeqe (Houston SaberCats)
*Devin Short (NOLA Gold)
Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold)
*Thomas Tu’avao (Utah Warriors)
*Luke White (Chicago Hounds)
*Lance Williams (Utah Warriors)

SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Chicago Hounds)
Ruben de Haas (Saracens, UK)
*Nick McCarthy (Leinster, IR)
Ryan Rees (Rugby ATL)

FLYHALF/FULLBACK
Luke Carty (Chicago Hounds)
Will Hooley (San Diego Legion)
*Line Latu (American Raptors)
AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears, UK)
*Chris Mattina (Chicago Hounds)
*Duncan van Schalkwyk (Rugby ATL)

MIDFIELD
*Dom Akina (Houston SaberCats)
Bryce Campbell (Chicago Hounds)
Mika Kruse (Utah Warriors)
Tavite Lopeti (Seattle Seawolves)
*Aki Pulu (American Raptors)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion)
Christian Dyer (Houston SaberCats)
*Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves)
Martin Iosefo (Seattle Seawolves)
*Joe Mano (Utah Warriors)
*Conner Mooneyham (Seattle Seawolves)
Mitch Wilson (New England Free Jacks)

INJURED/UNAVAILABLE
*Nafi Ma’afu (lock, Biarritz, FR)
Ben Bonasso (back row, New York Ironworkers)
Jason Damm (back row, Rugby ATL)
Cory Daniel (back row, Old Glory DC)
Hanco Germishuys (back row, Houston SaberCats)
Mike Dabulas (flyhalf/fullback, Old Glory DC)
Paul Lasike (midfield, Utah Warriors)