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.