Eagles soar into WC prep
The United States of America Eagles have named a 50-man training squad ahead of a busy schedule as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup in England.
Coach Mike has included Sevens residents Danny Barrett, Andrew Durutalo, Folau Niua, Zach Test, and Brett Thompson in the squad that compromises of 28 domestic-based and 20 professionals in competition abroad. Todd Clever and Thompson began the competitive season with Shining Arcs in Japan and Edinburgh in Scotland, respectively, before returning home to train in the U.S.
Inaki Basauri of Tarbes and Louis Mulholland at University of Bath are the only players who are yet to have some sort of Eagles representation over the past year-and-a-half.
"In the last World Cup cycle, we didn't have nearly the same level of depth as we do this go-round. It gives you a little bit of relief to think that, if someone were to go down or wasn't playing well, there are some quality choices that you can make experience-wise," Tolkin said.
The Eagles will assemble in Santa Clara on July 11 ahead of the first two rounds of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup at Avaya Stadium in San Jose and Bonney Field in Sacramento. The squad for the Eagles' third year in the competition – which will run through to the Finals day in Burnaby, Canada on August 3 – will be announced June 22.
Troy Hall, Scott LaValla, Toby L'Estrange, AJ MacGinty, Al McFarland, Mike Petri, Thretton Palamo, Hayden Smith, Phil Thiel, and Chris Wyles – as well as three players from Glendale Raptors and nine from Seattle Saracens – ended their club seasons with championships, while Wyles extended his year to help the national Sevens squad qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
"It's always beneficial to have guys play in the best possible games at the end of the season. The more we can get those guys playing high-level games closer to when we next meet is always a good thing," he added.
The U.S. will get an early look at World Cup pool mates Japan and Samoa during the Pacific Nations Cup – which will also consist of a match against Tonga and a final dependent on tournament seeding. The Eagles will rest between the final match day and their next assembly date of August 15, when the squad will prepare for domestic matches against Harlequins and Australia in Philadelphia and Chicago, respectively.
USA Eagles: Danny Barrett, Inaki Basauri, Chris Baumann, Todd Clever, Tom Coolican, John Cullen, Cameron Dolan, Andrew Durutalo, Zach Fenoglio, LeMoto Filikitonga, Eric Fry, Troy Hall, Seamus Kelly, Olive Kilifi, Niku Kruger, Titi Lamositele , Ben Landry, Scott LaValla, Toby L'Estrange, Chad London, Samu Manoa, Tim Maupin, Al McFarland, J MacGinty, Ronnie McLean, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Louis Mulholland, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Folau Niua, Thretton Palamo, Zach Pangelinan, Greg Peterson, Mike Petri, John Quill, Blaine Scully, Robbie Shaw , Mike Shepherd , Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Tim Stanfill, Kyle Sumsion , Andrew Suniula, Shalom Suniula, Zach Test, Phil Thiel, Brett Thompson, Matt Trouville, Tai Tuisamoa, Nick Wallace, Chris Wyles.
