Highlanders winger James Paterson has been included in a 50-man Rugby World Cup training squad by the USA Eagles on Wednesday.
The names were submitted to the International Rugby Board (IRB) as part of a requirement of RWC planning. However, the list is not definitive and the final squad can include players from outside the initial group.
The American squad includes experienced Saracens pair Chris Wyles and Hayden Smith as well as Biarritz winger Taku Ngwenya, who all missed the recent Churchill Cup competition, along with former U19s captain Paterson.
The 24-year-old had a solid Super Rugby debut season, having scored two tries in 21 appearances for his Otago-based side.
"With the World Cup less than three months away we have put together an extended pool of players from which the final Eagles Squad of 30 players will emerge," said Eagles coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
The former Ireland mentor had the chance to watch half of this squad perform in the Churchill Cup tournament that saw the Eagles lose to England Saxons and Tonga before winning the Bowl crown with a triumph over Russia - the Eagles' opponents in New Zealand later this year.
"The players who made the Churchill Cup Squad have the advantage of having been in camp together for the past three weeks," said O'Sullivan.
"But there are players who missed the Churchill Cup for various reasons.
"With a busy July of fitness training ahead and three warm-up games in August, there will be plenty of opportunities for players to impress before we select the final RWC squad near the end of August."
The Eagles will next meet-up at the end of July, before facing Canada on August 6 and 13. The USA will then travel to Tokyo to play against Japan on August 21.
USA Eagles preliminary Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards: Inaki Basauri (L' Aquila), Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians), Ryan Chapman (Utah Warriors), Todd Clever (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan), Pat Danahy (Life University), Cameron Dolan (Life University), Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks), JJ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town), Matt Hawkins (Belmont Shore), Nic Johnson (Unattached), Will Johnson (London Irish), Tom Katzfey (New York Athletic Club), Danny LaPrevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate), Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), Samu Manoa (San Francisco Golden Gate), Brian McClenahan (Olympic Club), Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93), Alec Parker (Glendale), Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), Anthony Purpura (Boston Rugby), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Louis Stanfill (Mogliano), Phil Thiel (Life University), John van der Giessen (Utah Warriors)
Backs: Paul Emerick (Life University), Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), Troy Hall (New York Athletic Club), Colin Hawley (Olympic Club), Nese Malifa (Glendale), Taku Ngwenya (Biarritz), Folau Niua (San Francisco Golden Gate), Thretton Palamo (University of Utah), Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors), James Paterson (Otago Highlanders, New Zealand), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), Volney Rouse (San Francisco Golden Gate), Blaine Scully (University of California - Berkeley), Robbie Shaw (Bristol Rugby), Junior Sifa (Nottingham RFC), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby), Shalom Suniula (Unattached), Kevin Swiryn (Agen), Zack Test (Unattached), Pate Tuilevuka (Old Puget Sound Beach), Seta Tuilevuka (Montpellier), Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), Chris Wyles (Saracens)
Comments
KubilaKhan says...
I agree with piru about having the ability to change the world order. Rugby is growing in the US and I beleive that with a bit more boosting and players like Clever coming out of the wood work, 2015 may see The Eagles in a whole new light.
Posted 03:37 25th June 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@MIlesman1, I agree w/ that 100%.
@Piru, That is my dream for the USA. I can only hope I'm around to see it.
Posted 13:46 24th June 2011
Milesman1 says...
Perhaps, and as I said below, I'd like to see it happen sooner than later, to take the wind out of the sails of the POMs giving me grief at work. Still, I think 5Lock would agree that the US, as well as the future of the overall game, would be better served if the States got truly competitive from a grassroots foundation of homegrown rugby players.
Posted 12:12 24th June 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Milesman1, I hear your point about homegrown talent as far as the rest of the world goes. I just feel like if the game were more prevalent in the USA the Eagles would be able to get their hands on more talented athletes. That's not a knock on the Pac. Islanders that represent the Eagles, but these guys are 4th or 5th string in their home country. They came to play in the States b/c there was room for them. If Americans were playing the game since childhood the Eagles would have 1st string quality available to choose from and wouldn't need another country's left-overs.
Posted 14:33 23rd June 2011
milesman1 says...
I agree with 5Lock. The backline that played in the C-Cup (considering 10, 12, 13), could very well be the starters. They played far too flat, and did not support each other very well. Again, maybe a lack of time together could be an issue, but these are fundamentals that these guys should be executing. I thought the distribution from the flyhalf was better in their last game, but the US definitely need a better than 50% kicker on conversions and penalties.
Re homegrown talent, sure wouldn't that be nice, but there are hardly any teams in the RWC that will have all their starters born in that country, apart from probably Russia, Romania and Georgia. The English are all up in arms over the amount of foreign born players included intheir training squad. Still, if they win, it's 'spilt milk'. That's just kinda how the sport works - right or wrong.
Posted 12:23 23rd June 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@aeddanberry, The forwards aren't as weak as you may think at first glance. The Eagles have 3 props playing pro-rugby in Europe as well as 3 locks currently and 1 beginning next season, and 2 pro loose forwards (1 of which played Super and Currie Cup rugby). I think the real weakness for the USA is the fly-half position and in the centers.
Posted 06:06 23rd June 2011
StunTheMullet says...
More New Zealand player poaching....
Posted 00:22 23rd June 2011
5Lock4ward says...
After a little research on how Paterson qualified for the Eagles (which would have been nice for the author to include) I'm excited to see this young man included in the USA fold. This means the back 3 of the Eagles will come from top level professional competitions. I look forward to a day when the USA is full of homegrown American talent and not imported 4th and 5th string Pac. Islanders, South Africans etc...But Paterson is top notch and I'm glad he's decided to play for the Eagles.
Posted 12:30 22nd June 2011