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Alex Maughan and Jason Damm selected in USA Extended Squad

Whats App Image 2024 05 03 at 10 11 43 AM 2
7 months ago

Head Coach Scott Lawrence and staff have named 55 players to the Extended Player Squad (EPS) for 2024, identifying a dynamic pool of qualified and available players for the two confirmed tours scheduled this year.

15 new prospects target their USA Eagles debut. The Men’s Eagles international season will kick off in July with a two-match tour as part of the American Series before breaking for the Major League Rugby playoffs, reassembling in August for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Two collegiate standouts make the cut, with Dominic Besag and Erich Storti of Saint Mary’s College looking to join the traveling roster this summer. Besag debuted in 2023 and both players will step onto the pitch in Houston this weekend for the D1A National Championship.

Alex Maughan breaks the line in the win over Utah. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit
Alex Maughan breaks the line in the win over Utah. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit

Lucas Gramlick, Jake Turnbull and Conor McManus also make the list, representing Major League Rugby’s newest outfit, Anthem Rugby Carolina. Anthem is halfway through its inaugural year, a development program in partnership between MLR, USA Rugby and World Rugby. More young talent on the radar is Stefan Crimp, the Cardiff MET fullback who last pulled on a USA shirt with the Men’s U20s for the 2023 World Rugby Trophy qualifier.

Head Coach Scott Lawrence said on the player selections, “The EPS is a point in time selection of men that we see as being capable of competing for a place in the test team now, and a number of players that we will introduce to the path of becoming an Eagle.

Jason Damm on the burst in 2024. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit
Jason Damm on the burst in 2024. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit

The staff looks at many factors in selecting the EPS. Meaningful minutes, physical capability, the work ethic, professional habits and the energy they impose on a game all play a role in the selection process.”

Lawrence will select a traveling squad for the first assembly of 2024 in Chicago, ahead of their fixture against Romania at SeatGeek Stadium on July 5, followed by a premier clash with Scotland in Washington DC on July 12. Tickets to each match are available now.

Prior to the American Series tour, team staff and players from the leadership group will gather for an alignment camp in June, an annual meeting for the program to connect and reinforce the program's goals for the upcoming international season.

Lawrence noted on the team's connectivity, “The team has remained connected through monthly zooms, coach one-on-ones, and game day visits domestically. Ultimately, starting minutes with their respective clubs gets them closest to a place where we can help them close the gap to test rugby through the Pacific Nations Cup and a November tour. Our goal has been to enable players to perform their best by being trusted resources until we can come together and plug in to the energy that can only come from an international environment.”

2024 USA Men’s Eagles Extended Player Squad

PROP
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
David Ainu'uToulouse (FRA)22
Jake TurnbullAnthem RC5
Jack IscaroOld Glory DC6
Alex MaughanRFCLA3
Paul MullenUtah Warriors34
Kaleb GeigerNew England Free Jacks3
Pono DavisHouston SaberCatsYet to debut
Nathan SylviaSan Diego Legion3
HOOKER
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Dylan FawsittChicago Hounds27
Mikey Sosene-FeagaiAgen (FRA)9
Kapeli PifeletiSaracens (ENG)10
Sean McNultyMiami SharksYet to debut
Joe Taufete'eSeattle Seawolves37
LOCK
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Greg PetersonSan Diego Legion42
Sam GollaDallas Jackals5
Lucas GramlickAnthem RCYet to debut
Nafi Ma'afuPerpignan (FRA)Yet to debut
Renger Van EertenCA Brive Rugby (FRA)Yet to debut
Cam DolanNOLA Gold67
Siaosi Mahoni (IR)Houston SaberCats11
FLANKER
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Jamason Fa'anana-SchultzOld Glory DC9
Tesimoni Tonga'uihaNOLA Gold6
Viliami HeluSan Diego Legion5
Bailey WilsonUtah Warriors1
Cory DanielOld Glory DC3
Paddy RyanSan Diego Legion5
Makeen AlikhanDallas JackalsYet to debut
Collin GrosseOld Glory DCYet to debut
N0. 8
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Luke WhiteChicago Hounds5
Thomas Tu'avaoUtah Warriors5
Jason DammRFCLA1
Ben BonassoMiami Sharks5
SCRUMHALF
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
JP SmithSeattle SeawolvesYet to debut
Ruben de HaasCheetahs (RSA)31
Conor McManusAnthem RCYet to debut
Ethan McVeighOld Glory DCYet to debut
FLYHALF
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
AJ MacGintyBristol Bears (ENG)35
Luke CartyChicago Hounds16
Chris HilsenbeckBiarritz (FRA)Yet to debut
CENTER
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Tavite LopetiSeattle Seawolves12
Bryce CampbellChicago Hounds45
Paul LasikeUtah Warriors22
Mika KruseUtah Warriors7
Tommaso BoniOld Glory DC4
Dominic BesagSaint Mary's College1
WING
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Nate AugspurgerChicago Hounds41
Christian DyerHouston SaberCats14
Conner MooneyhamSeattle SeawolvesYet to debut
Lauina FutiSeattle Seawolves3
Joseph ManoUtah Warriors2
FULLBACK
NAMECLUBTEST CAPS
Erich StortiSaint Mary's CollegeYet to debut
Mitch WilsonNew England Free Jacks6
Stefan CrimpCardiff Met. (WAL)Yet to debut
Toby FrickerOspreys (WAL)Yet to debut
Chris Mattina (IR)San Diego Legion5

*IR - Injured Reserve

2024 USA Men’s Eagles ScheduleUSA vs Romania | July 5, 2024

Chicago, IL | SeatGeek Stadium

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Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Scotland | July 12, 2024

Washington, DC | Audi Field

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Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Canada | August 31, 2024 | Pacific Nations Cup

Los Angeles, CA | Dignity Health Sports Park

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Watch LIVE on Peacock

USA vs Japan | September 7, 2024

Kumagaya, JPN | Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

Watch LIVE on Peacock

Pacific Nations Cup Semi-Finals begin Saturday, September 14

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