SALTA, Argentina – The USA Rugby Selects coaching staff is utilizing the full travel squad on its current South American Tour as Head Coach Mike Tolkin has announced the starting lineup for the match against Argentina Jaguars Tuesday, April 28.

Capped Eagle Phil Thiel will captain the squad from the front row with Angus MacLellan and Chris Baumann at his side as loose head and tight head prop, respectively. The eight forwards named to Tuesday’s roster did not start in last Thursday’s 13-3, tour-opening victory against Uruguay in Montevideo.

John Cullen, available from the bench Tuesday, and Olive Kilifi each spent time in the sin bin in the win as the Selects did not allow Uruguay to cross the try line with 15, 14, or 13 men on the pitch.

AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans Ben Landry and Kyle Sumsion will partner Nicholas Barrett and Teli Veamatahau in the second row and back row, respectively, while Alastair McFarland rounds out the pack at number eight.

“This is a younger pack of forwards who are looking to prove themselves to the coaches,” Tolkin said. “They are young and athletic and need to use brains and brawn here to duel with a seasoned, physical, and intelligent pack on the other side of them.”

Fly half in last week’s match, Shalom Suniula will take over at scrum half Tuesday, a position he held with the Selects at the Americas Rugby Championship in Canada last fall. AJ MacGinty moves from the bench to fly half to partner the Seattle Saracens playmaker, while MCAA Niku Kruger will provide fresh legs for the half backs wearing no. 21.

“We are playing these games to see what these players can do in the heat of battle against quality opposition,” Tolkin said. “We would like our half backs to be tactical decision makers and lead the attack by being intelligent, confident, and vocal. It is my hope that they see the game exactly as the staff and team do and the attack can be effective because of that shared vision of what we are trying to achieve.”

Troy Hall will play at full back, his position at the ARC, moving Ronald McLean to the wing opposite Tim Stanfill. Chad London will partner Lemoto Filikitonga in the centers, replacing the Selects’ captain against Uruguay, Seamus Kelly.

Zach Pangelinan, scorer of the Selects’ first three points last week, joins Colton Cariaga, Cullen, Zach Fenoglio, Kruger, Mike Shepherd, Matt Trouville, and Nick Wallace in the reserves.

Twenty-eight of the traveling 29 players have been selected to a match-day squad on Tour thus far, with the coaching staff ringing changes to better gauge the Eagles’ World Cup pool.

“We wanted our upper echelon of domestic-based players to play challenging matches where they need to perform physically and mentally to succeed, to use and develop their rugby IQs so that they are better conditioned to succeed against the top teams in the world,” Tolkin said.

“From this match, we want to see who shows the ability to do that – who shows the promise to move on. That will be measured in the next matches as well as the one we just played in against Uruguay. It will also provide great teaching opportunities for the coaches.”

Tuesday’s match is scheduled for a 2:40 p.m. ET kickoff at the home of Jockey Club de Salta, before the rematch Saturday, May 2, at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena. Broadcast details for Tuesday’s match have not yet been confirmed.

USA Rugby Selects | v. Argentina Jaguars
1. Angus MacLellan
2. Phil Thiel (C)
3. Chris Baumann
4. Nick Barrett
5. Ben Landry
6. Teli Veamatahau
7. Kyle Sumsion
8. Al McFarland
9. Shalom Suniula
10. AJ MacGinty
11. Tim Stanfill
12. Lemoto Filikitonga
13. Chad London
14. Ronald McLean
15. Troy Hall

USA Rugby Selects | Reserves
16. Zach Fenoglio
17. Nick Wallace
18. Mike Shepherd
19. John Cullen
20. Matt Trouville
21. Niku Kruger
22. Zach Pangelinan
23. Colton Cariaga

Argentina Jaguars | v. USA Rugby Selects
1. Bruno Postiglioni
2. Julián Montoya
3. Matías Díaz
4. Guido Petti Pagadizabal
5. Matías Alemanno
6. Pablo Matera
7. Javier Ortega Desio
8. Facundo Isa
9. Tomás Cubelli
10. Santiago González Iglesias
11. Manuel Montero
12. Jerónimo De la Fuente
13. Matías Moroni
14. Ramiro Moyano
15. Santiago Cordero

Argentina Jaguars | Reserves
16. Matías Cortese
17. Lucas Noguera Paz
18. Roberto Tejerizo
19. Gerónimo Albertario
20. Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal
21. Martín Landajo
22. Bautista Ezcurra
23. Matías Orlando

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
Sam Akhavan – Doctor
Tristan Lewis – Team Manager

USA Rugby Selects | South American Tour
v Uruguay – W 13-3
v Argentina Jaguars – Tuesday, April 28 – Salta
v Argentina Jaguars – Saturday, May 2 – Salta

MIAMI – Executive members of the top-6 ranked rugby nations spanning North and South America met in Miami, FL this week to discuss the creation of a new annual International Championship set to begin in 2016. The tournament, which has yet to be named, would be a groundbreaking endeavor strengthening rugby competition across the two continents.

“This is a historic moment for rugby in the Americas,” said Agustin Pichot, former Argentinean captain and current Pan American Rugby Association President. “We had a very productive meeting in Miami and as a group of Unions we believe that an American championship would contribute significantly to the development of the game in the Americas. There is a lot of work to be done but the future looks bright.”

Echoing Agustin’s statement, Sebastian Pineyura, Uruguay Rugby President said, “We are very happy with the progress made in the meeting. The strategic goal of this tournament is aligned with our plans as a Union and we are sure it will be a great development tool for rugby in the Americas.”

During an initial tournament scoping exercise, all six nations agreed the International Championship would be developed under the guidance of the Pan American Rugby Association (PARA). The competing nations – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and the United States – will each play five matches annually, giving Rugby fans across the Americas a chance to see top-tier international competition on a regular basis.

Agustin Danza, CEO, Brazil was also in attendance at the meeting, saying, “We are very optimistic about the future of rugby in the Americas. The collaboration we achieved in this first meeting showed us that by having more of these meetings, we will be able to accelerate the growth of the region.” Brazil is the host nation for the 2016 Summer Olympics, in which rugby will make its triumphant return to the Olympic Games programme via the Rugby Sevens format of the game.

Executive members representing each nation’s rugby unions have agreed to work together to develop a fixture schedule spanning 5 years, determining home and away matches for each nation. “We had a great meeting in which all the invited countries collaborated enthusiastically to make progress and reach agreements,” said Sebastian Bianchi representing Chile “the dream of a tournament with the six nations is closer every day.”

During the meeting plans for future expansion of the competition were also discussed and proposals will be put forward to World Rugby to see how a tiered competition structure that could eventually incorporate all Unions in the Americas could become a reality.

USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville said “This is an exciting time for Rugby in the Americas and the establishment of a sustainable annual International Rugby Championship for the Unions in the Americas will be an important step forward for the development of the game in the region.”

North America’s other representative, Rugby Canada CEO Graham Brown, agreed, saying, “Rugby Canada believes strongly in working with our partners across the Americas. A competition that provides high-quality, consistent fixtures annually will help further ensure the growth of the game in both North and South America.”

Work will now commence to develop the competition schedule and operations plans ahead of the planned 2016 launch.

BOULDER, Colo. – Mike Tolkin’s Eagles Select XV will prepare for a three-match tour to South America, the Pacific Nations Cup, and the upcoming Rugby World Cup in England and its buildup matches with a spring camp in Sunrise, Fla., Feb. 26 to March 1.

Thirty-three domestic-based athletes, including Todd Clever (unaffiliated) and Mike Petri of New York Athletic Club, as well as two international-based, capped Eagles in Ronnie McLean and John Quill, have been called to assemble at long-time Eagle training venue KICS Facility.

John Cullen, Tim Stanfill, Ben Tarr, and Matt Trouville will head to Florida having gained their first test caps last fall in matches against Fiji, New Zealand, Romania, and Tonga. The Eagles’ tour was highlighted by the sold-out crowd of 61,500 at Soldier Field in Chicago for the Eagles’ match against the All Blacks.

Tolkin and staff, including Assistant Coach Justin Fitzpatrick, held a forwards camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., earlier in February with 20 pool players, which gave the staff time to work with players in specific set piece scenarios. An Eagles Select XV squad will be chosen from this weekend’s camp to play three A-side matches against Uruguay and Argentina Jaguars in South America in April and May.

“After a long time apart, our Spring Camp always serves as an opportunity to get the Eagle pool players back on page with how we operate, and it also serves to introduce any new tactics that we’re looking to implement for the upcoming international season,” Tolkin said. “Moreover, it provides a venue for some talented new and younger players to be seen and evaluated for the first time at this level.”

Boys High School All-American and AIG Men’s Junior All-American Ben Cima, currently enrolled and playing rugby at University of Maryland, earns his second call to an Eagles camp, with his first coming prior to the Eagles Select XV’s Americas Rugby Championship campaign last October.

Eagles November squad member Angus MacLellan and Kutztown University’s Niku Kruger and Mike Lawrenson – the latter now attending Palmer College – also represent the college ranks in the Spring Camp roster. Alec Gletzer of University of California and Kyle Sumsion of Brigham Young University were unavailable for selection.

“It is an exciting time as our pool continues to grow in numbers and talent, and both of these factors present our staff with greater opportunity as well as greater challenges,” Tolkin said.

While Tolkin welcomes back Toby L’Estrange from an injury sustained in early 2014, the Eagles will be without Adam Siddall, who has retired from international rugby. The fly half started seven of his eight international tests with the Eagles, including his debut against Canada in Edmonton May 25, 2013. His 52 points from eight conversions and 12 penalty goals helped the Eagles to three wins, including a late victory against Georgia Nov. 16, 2013.

Life University graduate and current club standout AJ MacGinty will get his first taste of an Eagles assembly in Florida. The American Rugby Premiership’s leading scorer with 75 points is now eligible to represent the United States at the test level.

Danny Barrett, who missed out on the majority of the match against the All Blacks due to an injury sustained in the first few minutes, is one of five Men’s Eagles Sevens representatives at the Spring Camp. Folau Niua of 12 caps and Andrew Durutalo and Zack Test, called upon for the ARC, will travel to Sunrise with Barrett and Maka Unufe. The sevens team is coming off of its first Cup Semifinal of a World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series leg since 2010 at USA Sevens Valentine’s Day weekend.

“The Spring Camp takes on further significance as we look towards selecting players for the development tour to South America in April,” Tolkin said. “The camp is also the starting point for building the Rugby World Cup squad later this summer. There’s quite a lot of competition for spots among the domestic players alone, so the way players go about their business on and off the field, no matter their longevity with the Eagles, will be incredibly important in how they are evaluated by the staff.

“I’d like to personally thank the clubs and universities for the use of their players, some during the competitive season, and I would like to thank the Men’s Eagles Sevens program for their cooperation and participation in our camp.”

KICS Facility, adjacent to Sawgrass Grand Hotel, affords the players and staff the unique opportunity to walk directly from the hotel to the training field, maximizing the on-field time over the course of the weekend as well as minimizing ground transportation costs. Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will also support the Eagles with equipment and operational needs during camp.

The Eagles Select XV’s matches in South America begin in Montevideo against Uruguay Thursday, April 23, before two against Argentina Jaguars Tuesday, April 28, and Saturday, May 2, in Buenos Aires and Mendoza, respectively.

Eagles Select XV | Spring Camp

Unavailable for selection
Alec Gletzer – University of California
Kyle Sumsion – Brigham Young University

Injured
Louis Stanfill – Seattle Saracens Rugby Football Club

Eagles Select XV Coach Staff | Spring Camp
Mike Tolkin – Head Coach
Justin Fitzpatrick – Assistant Coach, Forwards
Nate Osborne – Assistant Coach, Backs/Attack
Phil Bailey – Assistant Coach, Defense
Neil McMillan – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Chris O’Brien – Assistant Coach/Video Analyst
Richard Quincy – Physiotherapist
Zach Vyhnanek – Physiotherapist
Marc Kowalsky – Doctor
Sean Lindersmith – Assistant Manager
Tristan Lewis – Team Manager