Source link : https://news-sports.org/2024/07/01/rugby/junior-eagles-set-to-take-on-u20-trophy/
The USA are set to play their first match of the World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament in Edinburgh on Tuesday. A squad of 28 players have been selected by a staff led by Head Coach Neethling Gericke. All but two took part in the two-match series sweep over Canada in the North American qualifier last month.
Headlining the squad is twice-capped senior Eagles center Dom Besag, who is named co-captain along with hooker Cade Crist. It’s Besag, however, who represented the USA at the traditional captain’s photocall and who is expected to lead on the pitch, with Houston SaberCats tyro Seth Smith also contesting the starting No2 shirt.
Smith is joined by three other forwards with Major League Rugby experience, all with the Charlotte-based Anthem RC which doubles as a development side for USA Rugby. Hard running No8 Dylan Fortune is joined by lock or blindside flanker Braemar Murray and versatile loose forward Graeme Pedegana. The latter pair did not play in the qualifier due to injury.
Players based abroad include Randwick prop Thomas Wagner and a pair of speedsters who play in England, Hartpury’s Corbin Smith and Keelan Farrell from Esher. The remainder of the selections come from American collegiate rugby. Six are eligible to play at u20 level again next year.
First up for the Americans on their Pool B opponents are the Netherlands, followed by Uruguay and finally Kenya. Only one round of knockouts will be played, with the winner of each pool contesting the Championship Final. The USA finished 7th last year, with their lone victory over Hong Kong.
All matches will be streamed live on RugbyPass.
POOL FIXTURES
07/02 – 11:45 PT / 14:45 ET – vs Netherlands
07/07 – 03:45 PT / 06:45 ET – vs Uruguay
07/12 – 06:30 PT / 09:30 ET – vs Kenya
ROSTER
POS
NAME
CLUB / SCHOOL
HGT
WGT
DOB
PR
Rosenmeier, Asa
Brown
6-4
1.92
275
124
2005-01-08
PR
Ross, Asbjorn
UCLA
6-2
1.88
230
104
2004-04-01
PR
Rouse, John-Henry
Saint Mary’s
6-3
1.90
275
124
2004-12-28
PR
Schaefer, Luke
Lindenwood
5-10
1.78
270
122
2004-02-16
PR
Wagner, Thomas
Randwick (AU)
6-0
1.82
225
103
2004-03-07
HO
Crist, Cade
Cal Berkeley
5-11
1.81
235
107
2004-07-02
HO
Smith, Seth
Houston SaberCats (MLR)
5-8
1.72
240
109
2005-06-24
LO
Malone, Miles
Cal Berkeley
6-5
1.97
235
107
2004-03-27
LO
Muller, Brice
Babson College
6-5
1.96
235
107
2005-07-15
LO/FL
Engels, George
Army West Point
6-4
1.93
100
220
2004-10-26
LO/FL
Murray, Braemar
Anthem RC (MLR)
6-5
1.97
220
100
2004-07-08
FL
Ballinger, Logan
Life
6-0
1.82
215
97
2004-05-05
FL
Hahn, Holden
Kentucky
5-11
1.81
205
93
2004-10-25
FL
Lowther, Daniel
St. Bonaventure
6-1
1.85
215
98
2004-03-10
FL/N8
Pedegana, Graeme
Anthem RC (MLR)
6-2
1.88
210
95
2004-06-04
N8
Fortune, Dylan
Anthem RC (MLR)
6-3
1.91
240
109
2004-03-29
SH
Berman, Judd
Trinity College (IR)
5-9
1.76
190
86
2004-09-10
SH
Huntley, Spencer
San Diego Mustangs
2006-11-11
SH
Williams, Solomon
Cal Berkeley
5-7
1.70
170
78
2004-06-28
FH
Saunders, Ben
GCU
5-7
1.70
195
88
2005-10-05
FH/FB
Cline, Ollie
Central Washington
5-11
1.80
190
86
2004-01-16
FH/FB
Santos, Rand
Cal Berkeley
6-2
1.88
195
89
2004-06-18
CE
Besag, Dom
Saint Mary’s
5-11
1.81
210
95
2004-06-08
CE
Threlkeld, Max
Cal Berkeley
6-2
1.88
195
89
2005-01-25
CE/WI
Edjua, Tito
Brown
6-0
1.83
215
98
2004-10-20
WI
Farrell, Keelan
Esher (UK)
6-1
1.85
175
80
2004-12-12
WI
Vassel, Jordan
Life
5-9
1.76
205
93
2004-07-10
WI/FB
Smith, Corbin
Hartpury (UK)
5-9
1.75
180
82
2004-08-26
Source link : https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2024/07/01/junior-eagles-set-to-take-on-u20-trophy/
Author :
Publish date : 2024-07-01 13:05:19
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Author : News-Sports
Publish date : 2024-07-01 17:05:19
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.