photo credit: Paris Malone / Old Glory DC

Men’s Eagles training squad includes 15 uncapped players

Scott Lawrence has named 55 players in an extended Men’s Eagles squad ahead of the July international window. The USA will play Romania on July 5 in Chicago and Scotland on July 12 in Washington DC. Of those selected, 15 have yet to represent the Eagles at test level.

Brive lock Renger van Eerten and Ospreys winger Toby Fricker are selected for the first time, both qualifying for the Eagles through ancestry. US-born Biarritz flyhalf Christopher Hilsenbeck has switched allegiance after playing 22 test for Germany, and former Junior All-American lock Nafi Ma’afu looks set to make his senior debut at long last after several injury-riddled seasons.

The quartet are among 11 players currently based abroad, though Coventry flanker Paddy Ryan will join the San Diego Legion later this month. Dom Besag and Erich Storti play collegiate rugby for St. Mary’s, with the rest of the squad attached to Major League Rugby clubs.

Chicago scrumhalf Nick McCarthy is the most notable omission after playing all five tests for the USA last year, four of them as a starter. Others who were part of Eagles test selections in 2023 but are absent from the new list include Utah prop Takaji Young Yen, Seattle hooker Peter Malcolm, and versatile Chicago back Michael Baska. Ex-New York lock Nate Brakeley retired during the off-season.

 

PLAYER CLUB CAPS

PROP

Ainu’u, David (LH/TH) Toulouse (FR) 22
Davis, Pono (TH) Houston SaberCats
Geiger, Kaleb (TH) New England Free Jacks 2
Iscaro, Jack (LH) Old Glory DC 6
Maughan, Alex (LH/TH) RFC Los Angeles 3
Mullen, Paul (TH) Utah Warriors 33
Sylvia, Nathan (LH/TH) San Diego Legion 4
Turnbull, Jake (LH) Anthem Carolina 5

HOOKER

Fawsitt, Dylan Chicago Hounds 27
McNulty, Sean Miami Sharks
Pifeleti, Kapeli Saracens (UK) 11
Sosene-Feagai, Mike Agen (FR) 9
Taufete’e, Joe Seattle Seawolves 36

SECOND ROW

Dolan, Cam NOLA Gold 67
Golla, Sam Dallas Jackals 5
Gramlick, Lucas Anthem Carolina
Ma’afu, Nafi Perpignan (FR)
Mahoni, Siaosi Houston SaberCats 11
Peterson, Greg San Diego Legion 42
van Eerten, Renger Brive (FR)

BACK ROW

Alikhan, Makeen (FL) Dallas Jackals
Bonasso, Benjamín (FL/N8) Miami Sharks 5
Damm, Jason (N8) RFC Los Angeles 2
Daniel, Cory (FL) Old Glory DC 3
Fa’anana-Schultz, Jamason (FL/N8) Old Glory DC 8
Grosse, Collin (FL) Old Glory DC
Helu, Vili (FL) San Diego Legion 5
Ryan, Paddy (FL) Coventry (UK) 5
Tonga’uiha, Moni (FL) NOLA Gold 5
Tu’avao, Thomas (FL/N8) Utah Warriors 5
White, Luke (N8) Chicago Hounds 5
Wilson, Bailey (FL) Utah Warriors 1

SCRUMHALF

de Haas, Ruben Cheetahs (SA) 31
McManus, Conor Anthem Carolina
McVeigh, Ethan Old Glory DC
Smith, J.P. Seattle Seawolves

FLYHALF/FULLBACK

Carty, Luke Chicago Hounds 14
Crimp, Steffan Cardiff Met (UK)
Hilsenbeck, Christopher Biarritz (FR)
MacGinty, A.J. Bristol Bears (UK) 35
Mattina, Chris San Diego Legion 5

MIDFIELD

Besag, Dom St. Mary’s Gaels 2
Boni, Tommaso Old Glory DC 4
Campbell, Bryce Chicago Hounds 45
Kruse, Mika Utah Warriors 7
Lasike, Paul Utah Warriors 22
Lopeti, Tavite Seattle Seawolves 12

OUTSIDE BACKS

Augspurger, Nate Chicago Hounds 41
Dyer, Christian Houston SaberCats 14
Fricker, Toby Ospreys (UK)
Futi, Lauina Seattle Seawolves 3
Mano, Joe Utah Warriors 2
Mooneyham, Conner Seattle Seawolves
Storti, Erich St. Mary’s Gaels
Wilson, Mitch New England Free Jacks 6

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