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USA Eagles Head Coach John Mitchell has named his training squad for the USA’s upcoming two-game June test series. A total of 34 players are being brought into camp from June 5-17th to prepare for tests against Italy and Russia. The roster includes 27 players that were previously capped, six Eagle 7s players, and 20 players currently on professional rosters in the USA and overseas. Eagle veterans Todd Clever and Blaine Scully will serve as Co-Captains of the squad for the June test series.
Of the overseas professionals, three are currently on Super Rugby rosters. Andrew Durutalo (Sunwolves) and James Hilterbrand (Waratahs) have both already been capped by the USA. Tony Lamborn (Hurricanes) rounds out the Super Rugby representatives on the Eagle roster. The 24-year old back row prospect brings depth to an already crowded USA back row picture.
Notable omissions include Samu Manoa who is unavailable due to injury as well as prop Eric Fry, scrumhalf Niku Kruger and center Seamus Kelly, all of which started for the Eagles at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Mitchell is tasked with tapping into the momentum garnered by the launch of PRO Rugby, which has placed 11 players on the Eagle Training Roster.
“We still cannot control selection and commitment of the best team mix, and it is still a guessing game on how long it will take to get the experience we need to consistently win,” Mitchell said of the selection process in a release from USA Rugby. “We have dropped players who have not met the conditioning standards and are non-compliant by giving away the majority of our penalties. These standards will not only allow us to compete physically with Tier One nations, but, more importantly, ensure that the game plan is effectively executed.”
“It is no longer a culture of turning up to get fit and play for USA. The Eagles Elite Training Group and camps are a critical process to changing our mindset.”
USA 7s Head Coach Mike Friday joins Mitchell’s coaching staff as Attack Coach and signals a transition towards aligning all of the national team programs.
“We continue to move towards aligning our men’s national teams into one program,” USA Rugby Director of Performance Alex Magleby said. “The timing is right – with the Eagles Sevens on a rest period in June – to incorporate the expertise and experience of coaches Friday and Brown into the Test Assembly. It is another crucial step in our evolution to one language, one mission, one team.”
The USA takes on Italy at Avaya Stadium on June 18th and follows with Russia on June 25th at Bonney Field in Sacramento.
Men’s Eagles | Summer Series assembly
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Nate Augspurger* | Old Blue / Eagles 7s |
| Chris Baumann | Denver |
| James Bird | Old Blue |
| Nate Brakeley | N.Y.A.C. |
| Todd Clever | Newcastle Falcons (UK) |
| Tom Coolican | San Francisco |
| Shaun Davies | Ohio |
| Cam Dolan | Cardiff Blues (UK) |
| Andrew Durutalo | Sunwolves (JP) |
| Seth Halliman* | Central Washington |
| Harry Higgins* | Old Blue |
| James Hilterbrand | Waratahs (AU) |
| Will Holder | O.M.B.A.C. / Eagles 7s |
| Luke Hume | Old Blue |
| Olive Kilifi | Sacramento |
| James King | Yakult Levins |
| Tony Lamborn* | Hurricanes (NZ) |
| Titi Lamositele | Saracens (UK) |
| Chad London | Denver |
| AJ MacGinty | Connacht (IR) |
| Angus MacLellan* | Ohio |
| Deion Mikesell | Lindenwood |
| Taku Ngwenya | San Diego |
| Brodie Orth | Denver |
| Thretton Palamo | O.M.B.A.C. / Eagles 7s |
| Greg Peterson | Glasgow Warriors (UK) |
| Aladdin Schirmer | Central Washington |
| Blaine Scully | Cardiff Blues (UK) |
| Shalom Suniula | Seattle Saracens / Eagles 7s |
| Ben Tarr | Denver |
| Joe Taufete’e | San Diego |
| Mike Te’o | San Diego |
| Peter Tiberio* | Seattle Saracens / Eagles 7s |
| Stephen Tomasin* | O.M.B.A.C. / Eagles 7s |
| * Indicates non-capped player | |
Men’s Eagles | Summer Series Coaching Staff
John Mitchell – Head Coach
Phil Greening – Defense Coach
Mike Friday – Attack Coach
Rob Hoadley – Backs Coach
Marty Veale – Forwards Coach
Chris Brown – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Alex Ross – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brian Finn – Physiotherapist
Rob Wassilak – Physiotherapist
Simon Hurry – Mental Skills
Sean Lindersmith – Manager
