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The Eagles open up their 2026 test campaign on Saturday against Portugal in Denver. It’s the USA’s first match of the newly-devised World Rugby Nations Cup, intended to provide more consistent fixtures for second tier sides. They’ll face the reigning Rugby Europe champions who already have five games under their belt this year, all of them victories.
| FORM GUIDE |
Current World Ranking: 16 (68.26 points)
2025-11-15 – Romania 26, USA 26 (Bucharest)
2025-11-08 – Georgia 43, USA 30 (Batumi)
2025-11-01 – Scotland 85, USA 0 (Edinburgh)
2025-09-14 – USA 29, Samoa 13 (Denver)
2025-09-06 – USA 21, Japan 47 (Sacramento)
Current World Ranking: 14 (69.64 points)
2026-03-15 – Georgia 17, Portugal 19 (Madrid)
2026-03-08 – Portugal 26, Spain 7 (Lisbon)
2026-02-22 – Portugal 44, Romania 7 (Lisbon)
2026-02-14 – Germany 12, Portugal 68 (Dessau)
2026-02-07 – Belgium 17, Portugal 47 (Mons)
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jack Iscaro | Ezekiel Lindenmuth |
| 2 | Kapeli Pifeleti | Kaleb Geiger |
| 4 | Nathan Den Hoedt | Tevita Naqali |
| 6 | Benjamín Bonasso | Marno Redelinghuys |
| 10 | Chris Hilsenbeck | Luke Carty |
| 11 | Perry Mayo | Mark O’Keeffe |
| 15 | Mitch Wilson | Toby Fricker |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Duarte Torgal | David Wallis |
| 7 | João Granate | Nicolas Martins |
| 9 | Samuel Marques | Hugo Camacho |
| 13 | Guilherme Vasconcelos | Rodrigo Marta |
| 14 | Raffaele Storti | Domingos Cabral |
| NOTES |
- four players are set to debut for the Eagles – Chicago Hounds lock Nathan Den Hoedt and Nevers wing Perry Mayo get the start while Seattle Seawolves prop Mason Pedersen and Anthem utility back Julian Roberts are on the bench
- Mayo is one of five players in the USA squad based abroad… front rowers Jack Iscaro (Stade Français) and Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence), and reserve lock or back row Nafi Ma’afi (Montauban) also play for French sides… reserve hooker Shilo Klein is with Zebre Parma in Italy
- Paddy Ryan lines up at the back of the scrum despite playing flanker all season for Seattle… it’s the opposite for Ben Bonasso, who was the starting No8 for Old Glory this year
- the USA’s midfield is also in an unusual configuration… Dom Besag wears 12 and Tavite Lopeti 13, the opposite of where they have lined up in previous pairings
- among those missing for the Eagles are Bristol flyhalf AJ MacGinty, Toulouse prop David Ainu’u, influential lock Sam Golla, and powerhouse eightman Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz
- Os Lobos are coming off a historic Rugby Europe Championship, capping an undefeated tournament with a victory over perennial favorites Georgia in Madrid
- six of Portugal’s starters play their club rugby in France, along with two others among the reserves… most of the domestic selections also turn out for the Lusitanos – Portugal’s franchise in the Rugby Europe Super Cup
- notable absentees include tighthead prop Diogo Hasse Ferreira, flankers Nicolas Martins and David Wallis, and outside backs Simão Bento and Rodrigo Marta
| QUOTES |
Scott Lawrence (Head Coach)
“July is always a shotgun start for us as we bring the team together from across the world. The men have been diligent in their detail of the basics we are rapidly putting in place. The nation’s 250th is a special day and we are grateful to have the opportunity to represent our country’s rugby community on Saturday.”
| PREDICTION |
Hot and sunny conditions are expected at kickoff. The Eagles will have a size advantage up front but their set piece has not traditionally been a strength. Some new faces and combinations will also take time to gel. Os Lobos are a more settled side and are brimming with confidence after their spring success. They will also be out for redemption after losing at home to the Americans in November of 2024. Portugal are favorites in Denver.
| TEAMS |
USA
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Paddy Ryan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Perry Mayo, 12 Dom Besag, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Nafi Ma’afu, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Luke Carty, 23 Julian Roberts
PORTUGAL
1 Luís Lopes, 2 Luke Begic, 3 António Prim, 4 Martim Bello, 5 Duarte Torgal, 6 José Madeira (capt.), 7 João Granate, 8 José Monteiro, 9 Samuel Marques, 10 Manuel Vareiro, 11 Manuel Cardoso Pinto, 12 Tomás Appleton, 13 Guilherme Vasconcelos, 14 Raffaele Storti, 15 Vincent Pinto
Replacements: 16 Pedro Vicente, 17 Nuno Mascarenhas, 18 Cody Thomas, 19 Guilherme Costa, 20 André Cunha, 21 Hugo Camacho, 22 Hugo Aubry, 23 Martim Faro
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, July 4
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern, Sunday 02:00 Portugal)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 84°F (29°C), wind E 7-10 mph (11-16 km/h)
Broadcasts: Paramount+ (USA), RugbyPass TV
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistants: Jérémy Rozier (France) & Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wales)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (5): USA 3, Portugal 1, Draw 1
2024-11-09 – Portugal 17, USA 21 (Coimbra)
2023-08-12 – Portugal 46, USA 20 (Algarve)
2022-11-18 – Portugal 16, USA 16 (Dubai)
2010-11-13 – Portugal 17, USA 22 (Lisbon)
1998-04-08 – Portugal 5, USA 61 (Lisbon)
