USA Men’s Eagles kick off American Series with Independence Day weekend clash against Romania

Wed, Jul 3, 2024, 9:54 PM
TD
by Taylor Dean
USA Rugby
USA Rugby

Head Coach Scott Lawrence and the Men’s Eagles staff announced today the match day 23 set for their first match of the year against Romania.

The two-test July series at home kicks off Friday, July 5, at 8pm ET at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago. Tickets are available at usa.rugby/tickets with streaming live on FloRugby.

The squad arrived in Chicago for a brief camp beginning June 30, in prep for the continued American Series produced in partnership with AEG Rugby. Starters Renger van Eerten and JP Smith are set to make their USA Eagles debut from the Lock and Scrumhalf positions. 

Four players were called up to the assembled squad in Chicago - Viliami Helu, Kaleb Geiger, Saia Uhila and Navy’s Ethan McVeigh as Cam Dolan, Ruben de Haas, Alex Maughn and Jason Damm are unable to tour due to injury recovery. 

The Eagles last played Romania last August, coming away with a 31-17 win, another edition of the Pershing Cup - a tradition between the two nations during every test match. The Pershing Cup will be in attendance at Seat Geek Stadium where the winning team will travel home with the relic. The Eagles are first assembling since winning the Vila International Rugby Cup in November 2023, and are looking forward to kicking off their first home test series since 2022.

Comments from Head Coach Scott Lawrence:

“We’re all very excited to be back together after seven and a half months apart. It’s been a high energy assembly so far during a short prep week. The main focus within the group this week is really just getting back together, connecting on and off the field and begin cohesive again as a team to represent our country.”

USA Men’s Eagles Roster | USA v Romania
Name Club Caps
1. Jake Turnbull Anthem RC 5
2. Dylan Fawsitt Chicago Hounds 27
3. Paul Mullen Utah Warriors 34
4. Renger van Eerten CA Brive Rugby (FRA) Debut
5. Greg Peterson San Diego Legion 42
6. Sam Golla Dallas Jackals 5
7. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz Old Glory DC 9
8. Thomas Tu’avao Utah Warriors 5
9. JP Smith Seattle Seawolves Debut
10. AJ MacGinty Bristol Bears 35
11. Nate Augspurger Chicago Hounds 41
12. Tommaso Boni Old Glory DC 4
13. Tavite Lopeti Seattle Seawolves 12
14. Christian Dyer Houston SaberCats 14
15. Mitch Wilson New England Free Jacks 6
16. Mike Sosene-Feagai Agen (FRA) 9
17. Nate Sylvia San Diego Legion 3
18. Kaleb Geiger New England Free Jacks 3
19. Viliami Helu San Diego Legion 5
20. Ben Bonasso Miami Sharks 5
21. Paddy Ryan San Diego Legion 5
22. Luke Carty Chicago Hounds 16
23. Bryce Campbell Chicago Hounds 45
USA Men’s Staff | 2024 American Series July Internationals

Scott Lawrence | Head Coach

Alama Ieremia | Backs and Attack Coach

Nick Easter | Forwards and Defense Coach

Jono Phillips | Skills Coach

Blake Bradford | Scrum Coach

Alex Ross | Head of Athlete Performance

Jimmy Harrison | Analyst

Rodolfo Broggi | Athlete Performance

Dehra Harris | Performance Psychology

Michael Sheridan | Head Athletic Trainer

Ron Klingensmith | Assistant Athletic Trainer

Deanna Sisti | Assistant Athletic Trainer

Willie Berlanga | Sports Massage Therapist

Steve Levin | Team Doctor

Sam Akhavan | Team Doctor

Oscar Alvarez | Team Manager

USA Men’s Eagles 2024 American Series Schedule

USA vs Romania | July 5, 2024 8PM ET

SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago, IL

GET TICKETS »

Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Scotland | July 12, 2024 6:30PM ET

Audi Field, Washington D.C.

GET TICKETS »

Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Canada | August 31, 2024

Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles, CA

GET TICKETS »

Share