USA Men's Sevens Los Angeles 2020 Roster & Preview

LAST TOURNAMENT | BRONZE IN SYDNEY

Following a bumpy start to the 2020 season, the USA Men’s Sevens returned to medal-winning ways after going 4-1 in Sydney to win Bronze.

The U.S. opened with three clinical performances against Scotland (32-14), Japan (45-0) and home team Australia (43-7); showing unmatched cohesion through phase plays and brute physicality at the breakdown to entirely control all three scorelines.

In the Cup Semifinals, the Eagles Sevens went toe-to-toe with South Africa who used excellent defensive form to quell the American attack and win by one possession, 12-19. The USA capped its best tournament run this season with a 17-10 win over England in the Bronze Final.

Going into Sydney, the United States were ranked No. 8 and have now moved up two places after claiming 17 Series points. The Americans are now six points behind fifth-place Fiji and another nine points away from breaking the top three where France (3rd), South Africa (2nd) and New Zealand (1st) sit.

THE SQUAD

Head Coach Mike Friday has made three changes to the squad for Los Angeles with Captain Madison Hughes back after being removed from Sydney as a precaution.

Joe Schroeder will jump in for Matai Leuta with Cody Melphy in for Marcus Tupuola. Maceo Brown will serve as the No. 13 injury reserve.

In Sydney, Melphy returned to the senior circuit for the first time since 2017 and made an immediate impact with 11 runs, two clean breaks and 29 points (tries + conversions).

As the U.S. fights for its third straight title in a home tournament, Carlin Isles and Perry Baker each fight for their own individual benchmarks. Both players are tied at 199 tries a piece after an incredible scoring spree in Sydney. Baker claimed six tries with Carlin taking five and both players set to break 200 in front of a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The primary 12-player roster owns a cumulative 402 HSBC tournaments.

PLAYER NAME	POSITION	HSBC TOURNAMENTS TO DATE
1. Carlin Isles	Wing	55
2. Ben Pinkelman	Prop/Hooker	35
3. Danny Barrett	Prop	52
4. Joe Schroeder	Prop	11
5. Cody Melphy	Halfback	4
6. Kevon Williams	Halfback/Wing	25
7. Naima Fuala'au	Halfback	6
8. Maka Unufe	Center	41
9. Stephen Tomasin	Hooker	35
10. Madison Hughes (C)	Halfback	50
11. Perry Baker	Wing	45
12. Martin Iosefo	Center	44
13. Maceo Brown	Center	12

STAFF

THE COMPETITION

The United States are drawn in Pool C with Australia, Scotland and Samoa as the original Series format is restored for the next two rounds (LA and Vancouver).

Samoa will be up first and are ranked 13th overall after finishing 15th in Hamilton and Sydney. While the Samoans have had unfavorable results recently, they’ve shown how deadly they can be in the U.S. by making the Cup Final last year in Las Vegas.

No. 12 Scotland will be next and have faced the U.S. in group play for the last two rounds. They’ll be desperate for a win in LA having lost both previous meetings.

Group play will end against Australia who will also be determined to deliver a monumental performance after falling to the Eagles Sevens on their own home turf in Sydney.

LOS ANGELES SCHEDULE | POOL C

Pool C | Saturday, Feb 29
vs Samoa | 12:19 PM PT - NBC Sports Gold
vs Scotland | 3:37 PM PT - NBC Sports Gold
vs Australia | 8:03 PM PT - NBCSN & NBC Sports Gold

Knockouts begin Sunday, Mar 1 at 8:15 AM PT.

VIEW LIVE POOL DRAW HERE

WHERE TO WATCH / FOLLOW

All matches are broadcast LIVE and On-Demand on NBC Sports Gold. NBCSN will also provide comprehensive coverage from 8 PM ET to 12 AM ET on Saturday, with extended timings on Sunday at 11:30 AM ET to 8 PM ET.

Score updates are published across @USARugby’s Twitter, Instagram Story and Facebook Story. Match recaps are available on www.usa.rugby roughly 90 minutes after fulltime. Fans can also download the World Rugby Sevens mobile app on iTunes and Google Play for real-time stats, highlights and schedule updates.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO HSBC LA SEVENS »

HEAR IT FROM HEAD COACH MIKE FRIDAY

“We are very much looking forward to playing in front of our home support and our families under a familiar tournament format welcomed by all 16 participating nations.

“Once again we will need the noise and passion from the stands to inspire us to represent and empty for the Stars and Stripes in a very challenging pool.

“We will need to be at our sharpest for the physical challenge of facing Samoa in the opener which stands as a repeat of last year's Cup Final. Samoa are a dangerous team, full of power and pace, who are renowned for excelling on American soil. Scotland have also been difficult opponents on every occasion we’ve played them this season. The smart Australian team will also play with guile and invention.

“The boys have worked hard these last few weeks and the competition and energy have been high building towards this event. Dignity Health Sports Park will provide a surface that will be wide, flat and fast which allows the Dawgs to play to their DNA.”

TO SUM IT UP

A crowd packed with U.S. fans will bring a refreshing energy to Dignity Health Sports Park as the USA fight for their third straight title on home soil. Carrying momentum from their first podium finish of the season, the Americans will be in high spirits as Samoa, Scotland and Australia fight for their own spot in the knockout rounds.

The Series returns to its original form for Los Angeles and Vancouver which gives the U.S. a clear runway to stack up points and chip away at a spot in the top three. With Hong Kong and Singapore now moved to after the Olympic Games, only four stops remain to make a statement before all eyes narrow in on Tokyo 2020.