Experienced Selects named for first match of South American Tour
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Seamus Kelly will captain the USA Rugby Selects as they begin their tour of South America against Uruguay Thursday, April 22.
Mike Tolkin has named 13 capped Eagles to the starting XV, bringing a combined 339 international appearances. Players will not earn international caps on tour as none of the three matches south of the equator are ranking tests.
Nine players, including Kelly’s partner at inside center, Lemoto Filikitonga, represented the U.S. as the Selects at the Americas Rugby Championship last October. The Selects defeated host Canada and Uruguay to finish the tournament in second for the second consecutive year.
The Selects assembled in Sunrise, Fla., for five days to find the cohesion of a touring side. Following Thursday’s match against Uruguay, the team will wrap up the tour with two matches against the Argentina Jaguars in Salta, Argentina.
A forwards-specific camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., and the Spring Camp in Sunrise preluded last week’s assembly and the head coach’s selections. Across the two camps, 39 players vied for the 29 spots on the touring squad.
“We worked these players hard, mentally and physically, in some pretty harsh weather conditions in Florida, and their response was encouraging,” Tolkin said. “The returning players from prior camps and assemblies were prepared to take the next steps forward, and that continuity is what we need to grow and improve. They also served as strong game and team managers for the younger and newer players throughout camp.”
Thursday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 7:15 p.m. local time, 6:15 p.m. ET. The match is not scheduled to be broadcast in the United States.
USA Rugby Selects | v. Uruguay
1. Nick Wallace
2. Zach Fenoglio
3. Olive Kilifi
4. Louis Stanfill
5. John Cullen
6. Alastair McFarland
7. John Quill
8. Matt Trouville
9. Robbie Shaw
10. Shalom Suniula
11. Zach Pangelinan
12. Lemoto Filikitonga
13. Seamus Kelly (C)
14. Tim Stanfill
15. Ronald McLean
USA Rugby Selects | Reserves
16. Mike Shepherd
17. Chris Baumann
18. Angus MacLellan
19. Nick Barrett
20. Kyle Sumsion
21. Niku Kruger
22. Chad London
23. Alan MacGinty
Uruguay | v. USA Rugby Selects
1. Agustín Alonso
2. Carlos Arboleya
3. Fernando Bascou
4. Manuel Blengio
5. Mathias Broun
6. Francisco Bullanti
7. Alejo Corral
8. Ignacio Dotti
9. Alejo Durán
10. Oscar Duran
11. Jerónimo Etcheverry
12. Juan Echeverria
13. Santiago Gibernau
14. Germán Kessler
15. Leandro Leiva
Uruguay | Reserves
16. Diego Magno
17. Mathias Palomeque
18. Joaquín Prada
19. Alberto Roman
20. Matthew Sanguinetti
21. Rodrigo Silva
22. Santiago Vilaseca
23. Jorge Zerbino
USA Rugby Selects | Coaching Staff
Mike Tolkin – Head Coach
Justin Fitzpatrick – Assistant Coach (Forwards)
Nate Osborne – Assistant Coach (Backs/Attack)
Phil Bailey – Assistant Coach (Defense)
David Williams – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Chris O’Brien – Assistant Coach (Video Analysis)
Richard Quincy – Physiotherapist
Zach Vyhnanek – Physiotherapist
Sarah Sall – Massage Therapist
Aaron Burgess – Doctor
Tristan Lewis – Team Manager
USA Rugby Selects | South American Tour
v Uruguay – Thursday, April 23 – 6:15 p.m. ET – Montevideo
v Argentina Jaguars – Tuesday, April 28 – Salta
v Argentina Jaguars – Saturday, May 2 – Salta
