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The USA Eagles will be without Will Magie against Chile next month. The all-important Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifying series will see the winner securing the Americas 2 spot at France 2023. The RWC 2031 hosts, the USA, are chomping at the bit to qualify for a ninth World Cup while Chile are out to qualify for their first time.
It goes without saying that Will Magie was a part of the USA’s plans. ARN recently projected that the 30-year-old would be on the roster to face Chile. That will not transpire; Magie will not play against Chile and has instead opted to retire.
Magie earned 31 test caps for the USA from 2017-2021. His debut was as a replacement fly half against Uruguay in the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship. His first start came one week later as he played fly half against Brazil and Canada over consecutive weekends.
Gary Gold included Magie on his roster for Rugby World Cup 2019. He featured as a replacement in the Eagles’ match against France in Fukuoka. The Eagles did not play test matches in 2020. Magie played in the away match against Ireland in Dublin before featuring in all four RWC 2023 qualifiers in the Americas.
The importance of Magie to Gold and the Eagles can be seen by him starting at fly half against Canada in St. John’s and again Uruguay in both Denver and Montevideo.
The hole left by Magie may mean an opportunity for a rookie. It could also see a capped player playing more test rugby. ARN listed Mike Dabulas of Old Glory DC as the next-in-line. AJ MacGinty and Will Hooley are expected to be the two fly halves in the 23 to face Los Cóndores.
Magie first played professional rugby in 2013 with the Ealing Trailfinders in the England. His career took on a new meaning when he signed for the Denver Stampede to play in the 2016 PRO Rugby competition. Magie kicked the pinning points to give Denver a 16–13 win over the Ohio Aviators in the inaugural PRO Rugby fixture.
PRO Rugby did not return in 2017. In 2018, Magie played for the Glendale Raptors in the new Major League Rugby (MLR) competition. He played in England for London Scottish before returning to the USA to play for the Austin Gilgronis in 2022.
