u20 captain Besag named in Eagles squad for Europe tour

USA u20 captain Dominic Besag is a surprise inclusion in the Senior Eagles squad for their European tour. The Saint Mary’s College center is one of four players included in the 30-man roster who was not on the initial list of 34 potential tourists, the other three promoted from the non-traveling reserves.

Besag, part of the San Diego Legion academy, is among 14 who could make their test debuts this month. Other notables include former Leinster and Ireland u20 scrumhalf Nick McCarthy, former Italy center Tommaso Boni, Coventry flanker Paddy Ryan, and Major League Rugby’s top rookie Sam Golla.

AJ MacGinty will miss the tour with club duties in England, and Shilo Klein will instead play provincial rugby in New Zealand. Seawolves hooker Peter Malcolm has been recalled to replace Klein having won his most recent cap in 2018. Also added to the squad are a pair of flankers in ATL blindside Vili Helu and uncapped Utah openside Bailey Wilson.

Old Glory newcomer Collin Grosse is among those unlucky to miss out. Others absent from the shortlist are props Nathan Sylvia and Mason Pedersen, second row Ben Mitchell, flyhalf Duncan van Schalkwyk, and winger Joe Mano.

The Eagles will take on three World Cup sides on successive weekends beginning on Saturday, August 5, in Romania. Portugal will be second test on August 12, with Georgia on August 19.

 

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC) 2 caps
Jake Turnbull (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped

HOOKER
Dylan Fawsitt (New York Ironworkers) 22 caps
Peter Malcolm (Seattle Seawolves) 11 caps
Joe Taufete’e (Houston SaberCats) 35 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Kaleb Geiger (New York Ironworkers) uncapped
Paul Mullen (Utah Warriors) 30 caps
Takaji Young Yen (Utah Warriors) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Nate Brakeley (New York Ironworkers) 30 caps
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold) 63 caps
Sam Golla (Dallas Jackals) uncapped
Greg Peterson (unattached*) 39 caps

BACK ROW
Vili Helu (Rugby ATL) 3 caps
Paddy Ryan (Coventry, UK) uncapped
Thomas Tu’avao (Utah Warriors) uncapped
Luke White (Chicago Hounds) uncapped
Bailey Wilson (Utah Warriors) uncapped

SCRUMHALF
Ruben de Haas (Cheetahs, SA) 28 caps
Nick McCarthy (unattached*) uncapped

FLYHALF/FULLBACK
Luke Carty (Chicago Hounds) 10 caps
Line Latu (American Raptors) uncapped
Chris Mattina (Chicago Hounds) uncapped

MIDFIELD
Dominic Besag (Saint Mary’s Gaels) uncapped
Tommaso Boni (Zebre, IT) uncapped
Mika Kruse (Utah Warriors) 5 caps
Tavite Lopeti (Seattle Seawolves) 7 caps

WING
Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion) 36 caps
Christian Dyer (Houston SaberCats) 11 caps
Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Mitch Wilson (New England Free Jacks) 3 caps

*previously in Europe, now linked with move to MLR