USA Rugby Selects Squad: Americas Pacific Challenge

USA Rugby Selects & Americas Pacific Challenge

By Doug Coil

The Americas Pacific Challenge is being held in Montevideo, Uruguay. USA Rugby Selects Head Coach Scott Lawrence will meet in Fort Lauderdale with 27 athletes and the 10 home reserves prior to leaving for the competition in South America.

Alex Maughan, Benjamin Cima, Bryce Campbell, Hanco Germishuys, Jean-Paul Eloff and Matthew Jensen, who played in the 2016 tournament, will travel to Montevideo. Chance Wengleski also played in the tournament and will be a home reserve.

The United States finished with a 1-2 record following 2016 play.

The Americas Pacific Challenge is a round robin competition with three competitive rounds. Teams will play opponents in their opposite pool once, with the tournament winner determined by the total number of competition points accrued across the three rounds. No caps however are awarded during the tournament as the competition is developmental and the teams participating are not the senior squads.

Men’s USA Rugby Selects – APC2017

Peter Malcolm (Austin Huns) Hooker
Alex Vorster (Brigham Young University) Hooker
Huluholo Moungaloa (Life West) Prop
Kelepi Fifita (Glendale Raptors) Prop
Alex Maughan (Life University) Prop
Patrick Ryan (Bath United) Prop
Angus Maclellan (Chicago Lions) Prop
Matthew Jensen (Brigham Young University) Lock
Brendan Hardiman (San Francisco Golden Gate) Lock
Ben Landry (Glendale Raptors) Lock
Brendan Daly (San Francisco Golden Gate) Lock
Jack Kaka (Brigham Young University) Flanker
Aladdin Schirmer (Seattle Saracens) Flanker
Psalm Wooching (Seattle Saracens) Flanker
Hanco Germishuys (Austin Huns) No.8
Ruben De Haas (Llittle Rock Stormers) Scrumhalf
Holden Yungert (Saint Mary’s College) Scrumhalf
Ben Cima (Rocky Gorge) Flyhalf
Mike McCarthy (Saint Mary’s College) Flyhalf
Bryce Campbell (Glendale Raptors) Center
Lemoto Filikitonga (San Francisco Golden Gate) Center
Josh Whippy (Brigham Young university) Center
Martini Talapusi (Life West) Center
Zach Pangelinan (Strikers Rugby) Wing
Tim Maupin (Saint Mary’s College, Dublin) Wing
Mitch Wilson (Life University) Fullback
Jean-Pierre Eloff (Chicago Lions) Fullback

Home Reserves

Jacob Finau (San Francisco Golden Gate) Hooker
Chance Wengleski (Lindenwood University) Prop
John Hayden (Seattle Saracens) Prop
Siaosi Mahoni (Life West) Lock
Maciu Koroi (Life University) Back row
Devreaux Ferris (Life West) Scrumhalf
Kalei Konrad (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club) Flyhalf
Lorenzo Thomas (Lindenwood University) Center
Vetekina Malafu (Kutztown University) Wing
Marcus Tupuola (Notre Dame College) Wing

Men’s USA Selects Tour Staff:
Head Coach: Scott Lawrence
Assistant Coach: JD Stephenson
Assistant Coach: Scott Murray
Assistant Coach/Analyst: James Harrison
Team Manager: Chris Hanson
Athletic Trainer: Kevin Ng
Team Physician: Alexandra Myers