In a fleury of debuts, new USA Men's Sevens Head Coach Simon Amor and staff have selected 13 players to represent the United States at Dubai and Cape Town SVNS this coming weekend.
Four Paris 2024 Olympians will return to the series in Lucas Lacamp, Aaron Cummings, Marcus Tupuola and Pita Vi, as new and familiar names round out the traveling squad for the opening rounds of the 2025 HSBC SVNS. Dubai SVNS Takes place November 30 - Dec 1, with Cape Town SVNS Dec 7-8 - all live on RugbyPass TV.
This will be Amor's debut coaching tour with the USA, since being announced in September. Leading the group on-field will be Aaron Cummings and Faitala Talapusi who enter Dubai as co-Captains. Names familiar to the USA Men's Sevens residency will earn first selection in Peter Sio Jr, Darius Law, Michael Hand II, Porter Goodrum and Darrell Williams. Returning Eagles Jack Wendling, David Still III, Faitala Talapusi and Lance Williams step into veteran roles with the young squad as Olympians Orrin Bizer, Stephen Tomasin and Adam Channel wont travel to Dubai.
Hand, Williams and Law competed with the PR7s All Stars last weekend, against their now teammates who played in the USA Rugby jersey for the widely successful exhibition from Portland, OR. These selections signify a new generation and era for the USA Men's Sevens, with a four-year growth strategy to brick-by-brick build towards the podium at the LA 2028 Olympics.
Head Coach Simon Amor said on the inaugural tour, "With a number of great and long standing players retiring after the Paris Olympics, Dubai becomes the first step for a new group on our journey aiming to win a medal at our LA 2028 Olympics. The team selected for Dubai therefore has five players making their debuts, as we go from one of the most experienced and oldest teams on the HSBC SVNS, to one of the least experienced and youngest. We are looking to evolve how we play, using our talent and speed, and while our inexperience means we will not be perfect, we will always show the grit and togetherness that is at the heart of any great USA team."
| Name | SVNS Tournaments |
|---|---|
| 1. Aaron Cummings (C) | 22 |
| 6. David Still III | 18 |
| 7. Peter Sio Jr. | Debut |
| 8. Lance Williams | 6 |
| 10. Faitala Talapusi (C) | 19 |
| 12. Lucas Lacamp | 20 |
| 13. Jack Wendling | 5 |
| 14. Darius Law | Debut |
| 15. Michael Hand | Debut |
| 22. Porter Goodrum | Debut |
| 25. Pita Vi | 9 |
| 27. Marcus Tupuola | 32 |
| 33. Darrell Williams | Debut |
Simon Amor | Head Coach
Ben Pinkelman | Assistant Coach
Perry Baker | Assistant Coach
Josh Schnell | Strength & Conditioning
Colby Thompson | Athletic Trainer
Liz Strohecker | Head of Operations - Sevens
USA vs New Zealand | 1:06am ET
USA vs Fiji | 4:52am ET
USA vs Spain | 9:54am ET
Quarterfinals begin Sun, Dec 1 at 1:48am ET
