Three MLR signings in USA u20 squad

USA Rugby has named their Men’s under-20 squad for 2020. Head coach Scott Bracken has selected 33 players though as of yet there is no confirmation that the team will play any games this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The u20 Americas Rugby Championship has been postponed with the World Rugby u20 Trophy likely to be cancelled.

Only two players return from the 2019 squad in Kutztown lock Matt Gelhaus and OMBAC flanker Miles McCormick. The latter has been named team captain. Gelhaus is the only true second row forward with Utah Warriors flanker Charlie Hola and Arizona State No8 Carson Shoemaker named as locks.

Hola, who appeared for the Warriors in the Major League Rugby preseason, is one of three professionals in the squad. The others are both wingers – Mateo Gadsden of the Colorado Raptors and Zack Godfrey of the Houston SaberCats. Mira Costa flyhalf Sean Nolan is part of the San Diego Legion academy program.

Also included are eight players based overseas. Harlequins flanker Makeen Alikhan, RGC 1404 scrumhalf Oscar Lennon, and Cardiff Met winger Ethyn Baker from the United Kingdom with UCC center Killian Coghlan and Cork utility back Michael Hand hailing from Ireland.

Three hail from the Southern Hemisphere. Sydenham prop Mika Felix and Northcote hooker Charlie Walsh are joined by Sydney Uni scrumhalf Tas Smith.

Saint Mary’s Gaels contribute the most players to the group. McCormick is joined by fellow loose forward Kaipono Kayoshi, versatile halfback Karl Keane, midfielder Erich Storti. Central Washington is next with three including props Jonah Auva’a and Cameron Nelson, and flanker Alex Cleary.

FORWARDS
Jonah Auva’a (Central Washington), Jesse Emerson (AIC), Mika Felix (Sydenham, NZ), Ronald Leuma (North Texas), Cameron Nelson (Central Washington), Lane Pruisner (Iowa Central), Charlie Walsh (Northcote Birkenhead, NZ), John Zeich (NYAC), Matt Gelhaus (Kutztown), Charlie Hola (Utah Warriors), Carson Shoemaker (Arizona State), Makeen Alikhan (Harlequins, UK), Cyrille Cama (St. John Bosco HS), Alex Cleary (Central Washington), Kaipono Kayoshi (Saint Mary’s), Miles McCormick (capt., Saint Mary’s), Ben Richards (Bellarmine), Dominic Tianga (Queens College), Colin Turner (Southern Virginia)

BACKS
Oscar Lennon (RGC 1404, UK), Tas Smith (Sydney Uni, AU), Karl Keane (Saint Mary’s), Sean Nolan (Mira Costa), Nate Salter (Cal Berkeley), Tohi Angilau (USA Sevens), Killian Coghlan (UCC, IR), Ty Nelson (OMBAC), Erich Storti (Saint Mary’s), Ethyn Baker (Cardiff Met, UK), Mateo Gadsden (Colorado Raptors), Zack Godfrey (Houston SaberCats), Jasper Green (Dartmouth), Michael Hand (Cork Constitution, IR)