Extended reserve list named in updated Men’s Eagles player pool

Following Tuesday’s announcement of the senior Men’s Eagles squad for next month’s internationals, USA Rugby has released their updated player pool. A full list of 28 names are included on the standby list with another 11 classified as injured or unavailable. It’s unclear at this stage which, if any, of the latter will be fit or available in time to contend for a spot in the World Cup qualifiers.

Half of the standby players have previously played test rugby for the USA. NOLA flyhalf Luke Carty and LA winger Christian Dyer are the most experienced with 20 and 15 caps respectively. All are attached to Major League Rugby clubs with the exception of Cal Berkeley flyhalf or fullback Rand Santos.

Seven names on the standby list were not part of the 72-man longlist announced in April. Breakout Chicago winger Peyton Wall is among them, along with former New Zealand u20 and current LA tighthead prop Maliu Niuafe. Utah tighthead Angus MacLellan returns to Eagles contention, as do Hounds No8 Luke White and scrumhalf Michael Baska. There are first time player pool selections for Miami prop Alec McDonnell and NOLA outside back Julian Roberts.

A handful of established test veterans have withdrawn from Eagles consideration. Those include tighthead prop Paul Mullen, hooker Dylan Fawsitt, second row Cam Dolan, and midfielder Bryce Campbell. Free Jacks duo Joe Johnston and Oscar Lennon have opted to retain eligibility for New Zealand and England, while Utah winger Joe Mano also pulled out of contention.

The most high profile absentee is Toulouse prop David Ainu’u. Though currently injured, he does not feature on the list at all and multiple sources have informed ARN that Ainu’u is considering his future with USA Rugby. The 25-year-old won the most recent of his 23 caps in July of last year. Ainu’u could seek to switch his international allegiance to Samoa ahead of the 2027 World Cup by observing a three-year stand-down period. If he chose to take that option it would follow the same decision made by another former Eagles prop – Titi Lamositele – who was recently named in the Manu Samoa squad for this year’s Pacific Nations Cup.

EDIT: Four additional players were subsequently added to the list: Utah forwards Matt Jensen and Lance Williams, NOLA captain Moni Tonga’uiha, and Miami lock Rick Rose.

EAGLES EXTENDED PLAYER POOL JULY 2025

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Alec McDonnell (Miami Sharks) uncapped
Nathan Sylvia (San Diego Legion) 5 caps

HOOKER
Sean McNulty (Miami Sharks) 5 caps
Mike Sosene-Feagai (RFC Los Angeles) 10 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Angus MacLellan (Utah Warriors) 7 caps
Maliu Niuafe (RFC Los Angeles) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Mikey Grandy (Anthem RC) 1 cap
Brandon Harvey (San Diego Legion) uncapped
Matt Jensen (Utah Warriors) 7 caps
Rick Rose (Miami Sharks) uncapped

BACK ROW
Emmanuel Albert (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Keni Nasoqeqe (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold) 9 caps
Luke White (Chicago Hounds) 5 caps
Lance Williams (Utah Warriors) uncapped

SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Chicago Hounds) 4 caps
Connor Buckley (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Ethan McVeigh (Old Glory DC) 4 caps

FLYHALF
Luke Carty (NOLA Gold) 20 caps
Steffan Crimp (San Diego Legion) uncapped
Rand Santos (Cal Golden Bears) 2 caps

MIDFIELD
Dom Akina (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Tommaso Boni (Old Glory DC) 9 caps
Junior Gafa (Anthem RC) uncapped
Mark O’Keeffe (Chicago Hounds) 2 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Christian Dyer (RFC Los Angeles) 15 caps
Malacchi Esdale (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Ryan James (San Diego Legion) 1 cap
Julian Roberts (NOLA Gold) uncapped
Max Schumacher (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Corbin Smith (Anthem RC) uncapped
Peyton Wall (Chicago Hounds) uncapped

INJURED/UNAVAILABLE
Jake Turnbull (LH, Anthem RC) 14 caps
Joe Taufete’e (HO, NOLA Gold) 36 caps
Alex Maughan (HO/TH, Anthem RC) 8 caps
Jason Damm (LO, RFC Los Angeles) 9 caps
Siaosi Mahoni (LO, Seattle Seawolves) 11 caps
Renger van Eerten (LO, Brive, FR) 1 cap
Nafi Ma’afu (LO/N8, Biarritz, FR) uncapped
Paddy Ryan (FL/N8, San Diego Legion) 14 caps
Riekert Hattingh (N8, Seattle Seawolves) 2 caps
Mika Kruse (CE/WI, Seattle Seawolves) 7 caps
Conner Mooneyham (Anthem RC) 7 caps