The USA have opted not to send a senior sevens side to contest the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, next month. Only half of the 12-man squad have experience on the HSBC Sevens Series, with six collegiate standouts called up to fill out the roster.
Cody Melphy captains the side with Joe Schroeder tabbed as vice-captain. Others with senior caps include Ben Broselle, Naima Fuala’au, Marcus Tupuola, and Maceo Brown. Schroeder, Tupuola, and Brown were in the Eagles squad for the final leg of the season in Paris last month.
Among the collegiate players are Life winger Harley Wheeler, who trained with the Eagles XVs squad during this year’s Americas Rugby Championship, and Lindenwood center Lorenzo Thomas, who won two caps for the Eagles in the 2016 ARC.
West Point’s Jake Lachina and Christian Dyer from the Cal Golden Bears will line up in the forwards. D’Montae Noble of Kutztown will provide backup for Melphy and Fuala’au in the halfbacks, and All-American sprinter Travion Clark will represent Vail Rugby on the wing.
The rugby event at the Pan Am Games will take place between July 26-28.
MEN’S EAGLES SEVENS
Ben Broselle, Maceo Brown, Travion Clark, Christian Dyer, Naima Fuala’au, Jake Lachina, Cody Melphy (capt.), D’Montae Noble, Joe Schroeder, Lorenzo Thomas, Marcus Tupuola, Harley Wheeler