Head Coach Mike Friday announced today the 14 players traveling to Spain for Madrid SVNS. With a ninth place overall finish in the 2024 SVNS season, the USA Men’s Sevens head to Madrid to play in the playoff tournament with eyes on securing their place in the 2025 SVNS.
Kevon Williams captains the traveling squad as they head to Europe, where Stephen Tomasin and Madison Hughes will be playing in their 60th SVNS tournament. Joe Schroeder remains in Chula Vista, recovering from injury sustained in Singapore. Maceo Brown, who also went home from Singapore with injury, had a successful surgery and continues to recover.
The squad will play three teams in Pool A, with their placement determining which of four qualifier matches they will play. The winner of each match will qualify for the 2025 SVNS. 2024 Madrid SVNS kicks off Friday, May 31, live on RugbyPass TV.
“To say we are disappointed to be in this relegation competition is a huge understatement but that is the reality of where we find ourselves as a pack after the topsy turvy world of sevens and how this format works itself out. The four winners of the qualifier games gain entry into the 2025 SVNS, while the four losers have to qualify for the Challenger Series through their regional competition, so the consequences are very high indeed.
Our squad is balanced with some real physicality to add to the power and speed normally associated with us. I am pleased with our focus and drive of the squad these last couple of weeks and we have no interest in looking back and are only concentrating on what is to come. We will have done our preparation on each of the teams we are to face and we understand what is required by us to be successful in this forma. The boys just want to get in the trenches and get on with the job.”
The Dawgs begin their fight in Madrid against Germany, who secured their place in Madrid through a fourth place finish in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series. The two teams last met in Vancouver in 2021, where the USA came away with a 26-7 win. With a place in the series on the line, the USA will be determined to repeat those results and begin their pool play with a strong start.
The USA’s second matchup will be with Uruguay, who won the 2024 Challengers Series. Having played in the 2022-23 World Rugby Sevens Series and the 2022 Rugby World Cup, Uruguay met the USA several times, with games decided with less than five points difference. Either team will make a statement with a win in their second pool match.
Finally the Dawgs play Canada to close out pool play. Having been sent to the playoff tournament off their placement in the 2024 SVNS, the USA’s North American rivals have just as much determination to fight for their spot back in the SVNS next season. This will be the first time the teams play each other all season, their last meeting in the gold medal match at 2023 RAN Sevens, where the USA defeated Canada in Langford, securing their spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The border battle will be an exciting finale to the USA’s pool play.
Placement in their pool will determine which of four qualifier playoffs the teams will play in, with the winner of each game booking their ticket to the 2025 SVNS.
| Name | Position | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aaron Cummings | Forward | 21 |
| 6. Kevon Williams (C) | Halfback/Wing | 52 |
| 7. Naima Fuala’au | Halfback | 28 |
| 8. Malacchi Esdale | Wing/Center | 25 |
| 9. Stephen Tomasin | Utility | 59 |
| 10. Faitala Talapusi | Halfback | 19 |
| 11. Perry Baker | Wing | 70 |
| 12. Lucas Lacamp | Center | 19 |
| 13. Orrin Bizer | Forward | 6 |
| 14. Marcus Tupuola | Halfback/Center | 31 |
| 17. Lance Williams | Forward | 5 |
| 25. Pita Vi | Center/Wing | 8 |
| 30. Madison Hughes | Halfback | 59 |
| 77. Maka Unufe | Utility | 52 |
Head Coach | Mike Friday
Strength & Conditioning | Josh Schnell
Athletic Trainer | Brian Gardner
Team Manager | Scott Novack
Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Friday, May 31
v Germany | 7:06 am ET
v Uruguay | 10:12 am ET
Saturday, June 1
v Canada | 8:37 am ET
Sunday, June 2
Qualifier matches begin 10:56 am ET
