Head Coach Mike Friday announced the traveling roster of 14 men who will head to Dubai and Cape Town for the first two stops of the 2023-24 HSBC SVNS, led by 2016 Olympian Ben Pinkelman as Captain.
A few veterans including Perry Baker, Joe Schroeder, Stephen Tomasin and Kevon Williams will remain home for the first stretch of this year’s series as Friday and staff look to provide some additional rest and recovery following a busy summer with the Olympic qualifiers in August. Several players from the 2023 PanAms roster now find themselves with an opportunity, including Orrin Bizer who will have a chance to make his SVNS World Series debut in Dubai or Cape Town.
Of the players traveling, 13 will be named to each tournament’s playing roster with the 14th in assembly as a reserve. As the veterans continue through a preseason ramp up, Dubai and Cape Town offer the young talent an opportunity to step up on rugby sevens' highest level.
Two-time Olympian Madison Hughes returns to the USA lineup following a two-year hiatus after the 2020 Olympics. A season with the PR7s Experts and appearances with NAV 7s for RugbyTown prepped Hughes for a return to the international pitch as the squad sets sights on Paris 2024. Ben Broselle also returns to the traveling roster, following an injury sustained last January that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
The USA kick off their 2023-24 season in Pool C, against Fiji, Great Britain, and France, three teams well known to the USA on the Series last year. HSBC Dubai SVNS kicks off Saturday, December 2, broadcast details to be announced soon.
The USA’s last meeting with 2023 Sevens Series bronze medalists Fiji ended in a draw at Toulouse Sevens last spring, so both teams will be wanting redemption. The Eagles also matched up against Great Britain last year, having lost the last two matchups in critical games that determined the team’s placement. The Eagles’ final pool match will be against 2023 fourth place finishers France, who have proved to be a strong opponent.
“Before we know it after a busy summer of Olympic qualification, we are back at it and off to the desert for the start of the HBSC SVNS. We are very much looking forward to the challenge of this new 12 team format, which will not only be even more insanely competitive and unforgiving but in this Olympic season and with global rugby stars like Antoine DuPont gracing the pitch, the excitement and competition will be at an all time high.
We very much have an exciting young squad of players bookended by the returning veteran players of Ben Pinkelman and Madison Hughes, who will make their return after 2.5 years.
We are under no illusion of the task that lies ahead in Dubai and Cape Town, and we have to give these young men the support and confidence to attack the challenge. With the power and speed we possess, if we can control our possession and we certainly have the capability to compete and beat any team. Minimizing unforced errors will be important as these young men find their way and a robust work ethic and resilience to stay in every battle.”
| Name | Position | HSBC Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aaron Cummings | Forward | 14 |
| 2. Ben Broselle | Forward/Center | 13 |
| 3. Jack Wendling | Forward | 2 |
| 7. Naima Fuala’au | Halfback | 24 |
| 8. Malacchi Esdale | Wing/Center | 18 |
| 12. Lucas Lacamp | Center | 13 |
| 13. Orrin Bizer* | Forward | Debut |
| 14. Marcus Tupuola | Halfback/Center | 25 |
| 17. Lance Williams | Forward | 2 |
| 18. Adam Channel | Forward | 10 |
| 23. Will Chevalier | Halfback | 1 |
| 25. Pita Vi | Center/Wing | 4 |
| 28. Ben Pinkelman (C) | Forward | 36 |
| 30. Madison Hughes | Halfback | 52 |
*indicates uncapped player
Head Coach | Mike Friday
Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Strength & Conditioning | Josh Schnell
Athletic Trainer | Bryan Gardner
Team Manager | Scott Novack
Media Manager | Taylor Dean
Saturday, December 2
Pool C
v Fiji | 1:06am ET (Friday night)
v Great Britain | 4:30am ET
v France | 9:44am ET
Sunday, December 3
Knockouts begin 1:58am ET (Saturday night)
