Head Coach Scott Bracken has named 33-players to the 2020 USA Men’s Under-20 team.
Captained by Saint Mary’s freshman, Miles McCormick, the group is mostly comprised of U.S. collegiate and high school players with overseas clubs represented as well.
Of the 33 players named:
- 20 represent U.S. universities and junior colleges
- 4 represent high school programs
- 3 represent Major League Rugby
- 4 represent European clubs
- 2 represent New Zealand clubs
- 1 represents an Australian club
“Our staff’s main focus this cycle was athlete identification,” said Coach Bracken. “We solicited across the US and over the world for player recommendations and the response was vast. We netted nearly 200 responses which made the competition for selection tight.
“The staff and I have spent endless hours looking at film, talking with coaches and on calls; and, we think we got it right. This 2020 team has the potential to be a very formidable side.”
The USA Under-20s were originally set to play in the inaugural Men’s U20 Americas Rugby Championship. While the competition was postponed due to COVID-19, World Rugby continues to evaluate the climate for an opportunity to host the event later this year.
If the U20 ARC is to be canceled entirely, USA Rugby High Performance will seek alternative competitions, in line with World Rugby’s return to play protocol, to give all athletes an opportunity to represent the United States.
2020 USA MEN’S UNDER-20 ROSTER
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB |
| Makeen Alikhan | Backrow | Epsom College / Harlequins Academy (ENG) |
| Tohi Angilou | Center | USA Sevens |
| Jonah Auvaa | Prop | Central Washington University |
| Ethyn Baker | Wing | Cardiff Metropolitan University (WAL) |
| Cyrille Cama | No. 8 | St. John Bosco High School / Rhino Rugby Academy |
| Alex Cleary | Flanker | Central Washington University |
| Killian Coghlan | Center | University College Cork (IRE) |
| Jesse Emerson | Prop | American International College |
| Mika Felix | Prop | Sydenham Rugby (NZL) |
| Mateo Gadsden | Wing | Colorado Raptors |
| Matt Gelhaus | Lock | Kutztown University |
| Zack Godfrey | WIng | Houston Sabrecats |
| Jasper Green | Wing/Fullback | Dartmouth College |
| Michael Hand | Center/Fullback | Cork Constitution / Munster U18 (IRE) |
| Charlie Hola | Lock | Utah Warriors |
| Kaipono Kayoshi | Flanker | St. Mary's College of California |
| Karl Keane | Scrumhalf/Flyhalf | Saint Mary's College California |
| Oscar Lennon | Scrumhalf | RGC 1404 (WAL) |
| Ron Leuma | Prop | University of North Texas |
| Miles McCormick | Backrow | St. Mary's College of California |
| Cameron Nelson | Prop | Central Washington University |
| Ty Nelson | Center/Wing | OMBAC |
| Sean Nolan | Flyhalf | Mira Costa College / San Diego Legion Academy |
| Lane Pruisner | Prop | Iowa Central Community College |
| Ben Richards | Backrow | Bellarmine College Prep |
| Nate Salter | Flyhalf/Fullback | University of California Berkeley |
| Carson Shoemaker | Lock | Arizona State University |
| Tas Smith | Scrumhalf | Sydney University (AUS) |
| Erich Storti | Center | Saint Mary's College CA |
| Dominic Tianga | Flanker | Queens College |
| Colin Turner | Backrow | Southern Virginia University |
| Charlie Walsh | Hooker | Northcote Birkenhead (NZL) |
| John Zeich | Hooker | New York Athletic Club |
