Along with extra acquainted names like AJ MacGinty, Cam Dolan, and David Ainu’u, former Germany worldwide Chris Hilsenbeck has been included within the USA’s prolonged participant squad for 2025 when 2027 World Cup qualification is on the road.
Head coach Scott Lawrence has chosen 72 gamers, as preparations ramp up for the Pacific Nations Cup, which can see the perfect three groups apart from the already certified Fiji and Japan, punch their ticket to Australia.
USA missed out on the final World Cup in France and might be determined to keep away from a repeat, particularly as they’re internet hosting the 2031 match.
Californian Hilsenbeck is one in every of 19 uncapped gamers within the squad, which additionally contains former Scotland and Glasgow winger Rufus McLean and Olympian Malacchi Esdale.
Hilsenbeck performs his membership rugby with Chicago Hounds in Main League Rugby, as do the vast majority of the squad, though there’s a sturdy French affect.
He gained 22 caps for Germany between 2012 and 2019 and was a member of the squad that pushed Canada exhausting within the repechage for the 2019 World Cup.
Joe Taufete’e, Tesimoni Tonga’uiha and Tommaso Boni are additionally on Lawrence’s radar as they proceed their revovery from damage and work in the direction of a return to play.
Lawrence stated: “There have had a variety of entrance markers put in place to pick out an preliminary EPS (Prolonged Participant Squad) for which this group, exterior of damage, has largely met.
“The boys’s nationwide crew will proceed to anticipate gamers who wish to be chosen for this crucial 12 months, to play significant minutes and execute above their skilled friends as a way to be thought of for worldwide honours.”
USA host Belgium, Spain and England in July earlier than competing within the Pacific Nations Cup.
Males’s Eagles 2025 EPS
Forwards
Jack Iscaro (Outdated Glory DC)
Payton Telea (San Diego Legion)
Jake Turnbull (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Houston SaberCats)
Nate Sylvia (San Diego Legion)
Alex Maughan (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
David Ainu’u (Toulouse)
Paul Mullen (NOLA Gold)
Pono Davis (Houston SaberCats)
Tonga Kofe (Utah Warriors)
Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion(
Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence)
Mikey Sosene-Feagai (RFCLA)
Sean McNulty (Miami Sharks)
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks)
Dylan Fawsitt (Chicago Hounds)
Sam Golla (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Nafi Ma’afu (Biarritz)
Brandon Harvey (San Diego Legion)
Renger Van Eerten (Brive)
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold)
Siaosi Mahoni (Seattle Seawolves)
Jason Damm (RFCLA)
Mike Grandy (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Matt Jensen (Utah Warriors)
Marno Redelinghuys (Houston SaberCats)
Viliami Helu (San Diego Legion)
Keni Nasoqeqe (Houston SaberCats)
Emmanuel Albert (Houston SaberCats)
Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion)
Cory Daniel (Outdated Glory DC)
Joe Johnston (New England Free Jacks)
Makeen Alikhan (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Christian Poidevin (San Diego Legion)
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Outdated Glory DC)
Benjamin Bonasso (Miami Sharks)
Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)
Tomas Casares (Miami Sharks)
Backs
Ruben De Haas (NOLA Gold)
JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves)
Connor Buckley (Outdated Glory DC)
Oscar Lennon (New England Free Jacks)
Ethan McVeigh (Outdated Glory DC)
AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears)
Luke Carty (NOLA Gold)
Rand Santos (Univ. of California – Berkeley)
Tom Pittman** Flyhalf C’Chartres (FRA)
Chris Hilsenbeck (Chicago Hounds)
Dominic Akina (Houston SaberCats)
Bryce Campbell (Chicago Hounds)
Junior Gafa (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Dominic Besag (Saint Mary’s School)
Tavite Lopeti (San Diego Legion)
Mark O’Keeffe (Chicago Hounds)
Erich Storti (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Mika Kruse (Seattle Seawolves)
Nate Augspurger (Chicago Hounds)
Ryan James (San Diego Legion)
Malacchi Esdale (Seattle Seawolves)
Conner Mooneyham (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds)
Rufus Mclean (Houston SaberCats)
Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves)
Christian Dyer (RFCLA)
Mitch Wilson (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Toby Fricker (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Max Schumacher (Houston SaberCats)
Steffan Crimp (Cardiff Met. College)
Corbin Smith (Hartpury School)
EPS availability pending Return To Play
Joe Taufete’e (NOLA Gold)
Tesimoni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold)
Tommaso Boni (Outdated Glory DC)
