USA without key names for Nations Cup tour

The USA Men’s Eagles will travel to Europe for their final round of Nations Cup fixtures with a roster well short of full strength. Scott Lawrence has a group of 30 mostly-domestic players to for the upcoming tests against Hong Kong in France, Romania in Bucharest, and Georgia in Tbilisi.

Veteran scrumhalf Ruben de Haas is the latest to join the long list of injured and unavailable for the trip. Other notable absentees include France-based front rowers Jack Iscaro, Kapeli Pifeleti, and David Ainu’u, Montauban forward Nafi Ma’afu, and Bristol flyhalf AJ MacGinty.

Tourists who could make their test debuts on the trip include Bristol scrumhalf Oscar Lennon, who made his first appearance in a USA shirt against Australia ‘A’ in Nashville last month. He’ll be backed up by USA u20 captain Spencer Huntley, who is currently playing for Hartpury University in England. Old Glory winger John Rizzo is also uncapped.

Tighthead prop Justus Tavai could make his test bow after recently making the switch from California to Seattle. Several others have yet to confirm their new homes after the dissolution of MLR side Anthem RC. Former Zebre hooker Shilo Klein remains unsigned, and former SMC Gaels star Dom Besag has confirmed he has yet to formally sign with South African outfit Sharks.

The Eagles started the year in promising form with consecutive wins over Portugal, Zimbabwe, and Spain at home, followed by success in the friendly opposite the Argentina XV. Results since, however, have been disappointing with losses to Japan, Canada, and one-sided defeats against an Australian selection.

 

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Counties Manukau, NZ) 10 caps
Payton Telea-Ilalio (unattached) 9 caps

HOOKER
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks) 10 caps
Shilo Klein (unattached) 11 caps
Sean McNulty (Seattle Seawolves) 6 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Charlie Abel (Oyonnax, FR) 1 cap
Tonga Kofe (California Legion) 11 caps
Justus Tavai (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Jason Damm (capt., California Legion) 20 caps
Nathan Den Hoedt (Chicago Hounds) 5 caps
Sam Golla (unattached) 10 caps

BACK ROW
Benjamín Bonasso (Old Glory DC) 15 caps
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (New England Free Jacks) 16 caps
Makeen Alikhan (unattached) 10 caps
Marno Redelinghuys (Seattle Seawolves) 11 caps
Paddy Ryan (Seattle Seawolves) 22 caps

SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Chicago Hounds) 7 caps
Spencer Huntley (Hartpury University, UK) uncapped
Oscar Lennon (Bristol Bears, UK) uncapped

FLYHALF
Chris Hilsenbeck (Chicago Hounds) 9 caps
Tom Pittman (unattached) 3 caps

MIDFIELD
Dom Besag (unattached) 23 caps
Tavite Lopeti (Chicago Hounds) 31 caps
Cassh Maluia (California Legion) 1 cap

OUTSIDE BACKS
Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds) 3 caps
Perry Mayo (Nevers, FR) 3 caps
Rufus McLean (Stade Français, FR) 7 caps
Conner Mooneyham (unattached) 8 caps
John Rizzo (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Mitch Wilson (New England Free Jacks) 24 caps

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
Faka’osi Pifeleti (LH, Chicago Hounds) 3 caps
Campbell Robb (HO, unattached) uncapped
Rhyno Herbst (LO, Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Tevita Naqali (LO, Old Glory DC) 9 caps
Rick Rose (LO, Old Glory DC) uncapped
Tomás Casares (LO/FL, Chicago Hounds) 3 caps
Vili Helu (LO/FL, Kurita Water Gush, JP) 23 caps
Aidan King (FL, Doncaster Knights) uncapped
Christian Poidevin (FL, California Legion) 6 caps
Ethan McVeigh (SH, New England Free Jacks) 9 caps
Ishy Safodien (SH, unattached) uncapped
Steffan Crimp (FH/FB, California Legion) uncapped