Men's National Team named for November Internationals 2018
| UPDATE 10/25 | Chance Wenglewski, Alex Maughan, Tim Maupin, Psalm Wooching, Luke Hume, Marcel Brache and Gannon Moore added. Olive Kilifi out due to injury. Updates reflected in table below. |
| UPDATE 10/28 | Mika Kruse, Anthony Purpura and Nate Brakeley added. Updates reflected in table below. |
| UPDATE 11/5 | Devereaux Ferris and David Ainuu added in San Sebastian. Updates reflected in table below. |
| UPDATE 11/10 | Nick Boyer added in San Sebastian. Updates reflected in table below. |
LAFAYETTE, CO. – The U.S. Men’s National Team (15s) has been named for the upcoming November Internationals 2018. In all, players will have the opportunity to represent the U.S. across the span of four international fixtures against New Zealand’s Maori All Blacks, Samoa, Romania and Ireland.
Joining the team straight from competition in the developmental Americas Pacific Challenge (APC) 2018 are Men’s Eagles Hanco Germishuys, Ryan Matyas and Dylan Audsley. Both Germishuys and Audsley competed with the USA during their June Internationals while Matyas springs back into action for the first time since the Eagles won their second-consecutive Americas Rugby Championship title this March.
The APC 2018 has allowed all three players to return to their senior side battle-hardened and primed for more international play. Matyas and Audsley specifically contributed a combined 48 total points to the Selects across the duration of the tournament.
Newly capped Eagle Paul Mullen comes back into the fold after absorbing the best of professional competition abroad during his Major League Rugby offseason. After earning the first of his three caps during this year’s summer test window, Mullen gained valuable experience competing with the Newcastle Falcons of the Gallagher Rugby Premiership.
A burst of physicality will grace the Men’s Eagles’ this November as David Tameilau and Tony Lamborn return to the back row. Both last appeared at the Americas Rugby Championship 2018.
Five of the athletes in the named roster will miss the United States’ opening match against the Maori due to obligations with their professional clubs overseas. Paul Lasike, Titi Lamositele, Samu Manoa, Joe Taufete’e and Blaine Scully will all join the Men’s Eagles in Europe, available for selection against Samoa, Romania and Ireland.
“We are excited to test our roster depth against a New Zealand Maori team that has Super Rugby and All Blacks players,” said USA Rugby’s General Manager for Men’s 15s Programs, Dave Hodges. “This is an opportunity for us to give some of our emerging squad players a chance to help the team put in a strong performance as we dive deep into World Cup preparation. We’ll need to be unyielding in our play for the duration of the schedule, facing three formidable matches against Samoa, Romania and No. 2 ranked Ireland.”
The Fall schedule will bring an important preparation window for all players vying to compete in Rugby World Cup Japan 2019. Samoa and Ireland have both qualified for the World Cup while New Zealand’s Maori will use the match window to explore the depth of their senior All Blacks.
USA opens their schedule at home on Nov. 3 against the Maori All Blacks as part of The Rugby Weekend’s triple-header at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The event will also include the return of the Women’s National Team against the New Zealand Black Ferns, with Ireland and Italy competing against one another as well. Tickets are available at therugbyweekend.com with the match streamed LIVE on FloRugby.
Following the Maori, the Men’s National Team will travel to Europe for a string of test matches against Samoa on Nov. 10 in San Sebastian, Romania on Nov. 17 in Bucharest and Ireland on Nov. 24 in Dublin. Broadcast info will be updated closer to date.
U.S. Men’s National Team Roster
Updated 11/10
| Player name | Position | Current Club | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Ainuu | Prop | Toulouse Rugby (FRA) | 0 |
| Dylan Audsley | Center | San Diego Legion | 6 |
| Nate Augspurger | Wing | San Diego Legion | 21 |
| Marcel Brache | Wing | Western Force/Perth Spirit (AUS) | 10 |
| Nate Brakeley | Lock | Rugby United New York / New York Athletic | 16 |
| Nick Boyer | Scrumhalf | San Diego Legion | 0 |
| Bryce Campbell | Center | London Irish (ENG) | 18 |
| Nick Civetta | Lock | Doncaster Knights (ENG) | 15 |
| Shaun Davies | Scrumhalf | Glendale Raptors | 18 |
| Ruben de Haas | Scrumhalf | Free State Cheetahs (RSA) | 4 |
| Cam Dolan | No. 8 | Nottingham Rugby (ENG) | 37 |
| Dylan Fawsitt | Hooker | Old Blue New York/Rugby United New York | 5 |
| Devereaux Ferris | Scrumhalf | Life West Gladiators | 0 |
| Eric Fry | Prop | Vannes Rugby (FRA) | 44 |
| Hanco Germishuys | Flanker | unattached | 8 |
| James Hilterbrand | Hooker | Manly Marlins (AUS) | 16 |
| Will Hooley | Fullback | Bedford Blues (ENG) | 4 |
| Luke Hume | Fullback | Old Blue New York/Rugby United New York | 20 |
| Mika Kruse | Center | Glendale Raptors | 0 |
| Tony Lamborn | Flanker | Rugby Southland (NZL) | 16 |
| Titi Lamositele | Prop | Saracens (ENG) | 23 |
| Ben Landry | Lock | Ealing Trailfinders (ENG) | 15 |
| Paul Lasike | Center | Harlequins (ENG) | 6 |
| Will Magie | Flyhalf | Glendale Raptors | 16 |
| Alex Maughan | Hooker | Life University | 1 |
| Tim Maupin | Wing | NOLA Gold | 7 |
| Samu Manoa | Lock | Cardiff Blues (WAL) | 21 |
| Ryan Matyas | Wing | San Diego Legion | 10 |
| Gannon Moore | Center | North Harbor Rugby | 0 |
| Paul Mullen | Prop | Newcastle Falcons (ENG) | 3 |
| Greg Peterson | Lock | Glasgow Warriors (SCO) | 17 |
| Anthony Purpura | Prop | Old Blue New York | 11 |
| John Quill | Flanker | Glendale Raptors | 27 |
| Blaine Scully | Wing | Cardiff Blues (WAL) | 40 |
| Joe Taufete’e | Hooker | Worcester Warriors (ENG) | 16 |
| David Tameilau | Flanker | Glasgow Warriors (SCO) | 9 |
| Dino Waldren | Prop | London Scottish (ENG) | 12 |
| Chance Wenglewski | Prop | Lindenwood University | 0 |
| Psalm Wooching | Flanker | unattached | 3 |
Unavailable due to injury: AJ MacGinty
*Additional players may be added.
U.S. Men’s National Team Staff
Head Coach | Gary Gold
Assistant Coach | Shawn Pittman
Assistant Coach | Greg McWilliams
Strength & Conditioning Coach | Huw Bevan
Performance Analyst | Jimmy Harrison
Head Athletic Trainer | Kevin Ng
Assistant Athletic Trainer | Kristen Douhan
Team Doctor | Angelo Savino (Maori All Blacks)
Team Doctor | Matthew Schmitz (Samoa)
Team Doctor | Richard Kim (Romania & Ireland)
Massage Therapist | Aimee Kern (Maori)
Massage Therapist | Daliah Hurwitz (Samoa, Romania & Ireland)
Team Manager | Chris Hanson
Assistant Team Manager | Kevin McCorry
U.S. Men’s National Team Schedule
The Rugby Weekend
vs Maori All Blacks
Sat, Nov. 3 | 6 PM CT
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
vs Samoa
Sat, Nov. 10 | 12:30 PM ET
Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian, ESP
vs Romania
Sat, Nov. 17 | Time TBA
Ghencea Stadium, Bucharest, ROU
vs Ireland
Sat, Nov. 24 | 1:30 PM ET
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, IRE
*Times subject to change.
