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The Eagles are on the upswing after a highly encouraging European tour to cap their 2024 season. Scott Lawrence’s team has incorporated some US-eligible players from overseas competitions over the past couple years. Paddy Ryan, Renger van Eerten, and most recently Shilo Klein have committed to the USA… and more could be on the way.
Below we look at five European-based professionals who are US-eligible today that could conceivably opt for the stars-and-stripes in the future. We’re looking past players who have featured in recent Eagles longlists, most notably Biarritz standout Nafi Ma’afu and St. Jean-de-Luz flyhalf Christopher Hilsenbeck. The five names below have never featured in an Eagles squad to date.
| ROMAN SALANOA |
‘Please come home’ is what Eagles fans are wishing from the Munster-based tighthead prop. Born and raised in Hawai’i, Salanoa caught the eye of pro scouts while playing for the USA u20s. He seemed to be angling towards Irish representation when he was named in an Emerging Ireland squad in 2022 and even trained with the senior Six Nations squad in 2023, but has yet to be captured in the green jersey. The 27-year-old hasn’t featured for Munster this season due to injury and Ireland now have younger options Tom O’Toole and Tom Clarkson behind incumbents Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham. While Titi Lamositele is now permanently lost to Samoa, there’s still a chance that Salanoa opts for the Eagles.
| CHUNYA MUNGA |
Second rows of genuine international size are not easy to come by in American rugby, as evidenced by the selection of back rowers Jason Damm and Vili Helu at lock this year. Munga would be a most welcome addition at 6’7″ (2.01m) and 265lbs (120kg). The 24-year-old qualifies for the Eagles through his mother, whose family hails from Alabama. A former England u20 representative, Munga trained with the senior test squad in 2021 but hasn’t been called since and with a number of contenders emerging in the Premiership it’s not unreasonable to suggest the Northampton regular could choose to play for the Eagles come the World Cup.
| SEAN O’BRIEN |
Another 24-year-old who would no doubt be welcomed by Eagles selectors, O’Brien was born in Pittsburgh before his family returned to Ireland when he was still a baby. He has since played for Irish u20s and is now at Connacht, having moved west from Leinster two years ago. At 6’4″ (1.93m) he has good size and is comfortable playing across the back row. O’Brien notably had a short stint on loan with the LA Giltinis in 2021 and given the extraordinary depth available to Ireland at loose forward, a chance to play test rugby with the USA might be tempting in the not-too-distant future.
| JACK WALSH |
No position is of greater concern to Eagles fans than flyhalf. AJ MacGinty soldiers on but with his 35th birthday not far ahead he can’t continue forever. Behind understudy Luke Carty there are precious few contenders putting up their hand. Walsh would immediately shoot to the top of the list if he was willing to commit. Born in Jacksonville, he lived in Florida until the age of 5 when his Australian parents returned home. The 24-year-old has since played for Exeter before landing with Ospreys. Notably he isn’t Welsh-qualified, however, and won’t meet the requirements until a few months before the 2027 World Cup. It seems unlikely he’ll make any decision in 2025, but if the Eagles qualify early it could sway him towards their favor knowing that 2031 participation is a guarantee.
| JACK CARTY |
Nevada-born loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman could yet come into the picture in 2027, but another Ireland international has already observed the three-year stand-down period required to switch allegiance. Carty is the older brother of current Eagles flyhalf Luke Carty, the duo qualifying for the USA through their New York-born grandmother. At 32 the older Carty isn’t exactly one for the future, but he remains a regular with Connacht and could do a job in the qualification process if needed. He could also provide insurance for MacGinty in the coming year. If a return to test rugby isn’t on the cards, a stint in MLR as a mentor to younger American prospects would also be beneficial to the Eagles cause.
