The Eagles host Chile Sat in 3rd round of Americas Rugby Championship

The Men’s Eagles face Chile this Saturday at 2 PM PT in their final home match of the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship at Titan Stadium (Cal State Fullerton). The team is 2-0 after back-to-back wins over Argentina XV (17-10) and Canada (29-10).

The USA has made many changes in the squad as most of their European professionals return to their clubs. Titi Lamositele, Nick Civetta, Andrew Durutalo, Will Hooley, Blaine Scully, and Joe Taufete’e have completed their availability to the team, with matches against Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay remaining. Taufete’e sustained a knee injury against Canada and will have a lengthy rehabilitation process.

Tickets for the match are on sale, starting at only $30 and are available at usarugby.org/tickets. The match will be broadcast LIVE on The Rugby Channel.

With Blaine Scully returning to the Cardiff Blues, Nate Augspurger will captain the side. Head Coach Gary Gold has made five changes to his starting XV, with Huluholo Moungaloa and James Hilterbrand taking over for Titi Lamositele and Joe Taufete’e, at prop and hooker, respectively. Ben Landry will be at lock for Nick Civetta who heads home on bereavement leave. Psalm Wooching will earn his first Eagles cap at flanker, and Josh Whippy his second at wing.

Several players are expected to earn their first caps as reserves. Dylan Fawsitt, Brendan Daly, Malon Al-Jiboori, Ruben de Haas, and Paul Lasike will likely join Psalm Wooching with their first caps.

In the absence of the European professionals, the team has extensive players that will play in the new professional league, Major League Rugby. Nine of the starters and five of the reserves have been announced as participating in the new league.

Chile opened the ARC with a narrow 16-14 loss to Brazil and then lost to Argentina XV 57-12 last week. The team has made five changes to the team with Claudio Iturra and Nikola Bursic starting at tighthead prop and lock, respectively. Iturra replaces Marco Díaz, who moves to the bench, and New Orleans Gold player Bursic returns to his starting role and his physical presence will have stability to the scrum.

In the backs, José Tomás Baraona starts at scrumhalf in place of Benjamin Pizarro, Javier Lavanderos steps in for Lucca Avelli at center and Martín Raddatz replaces Matias Balbontin at wing.

Three Los Condores players, Basilio Díaz, Iñaki de Urruticoechea, and José Tomás Maturana will earn new caps should they enter the match.

Squads

USA: 1 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 2 James Hilterbrand, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Ben Landry, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Tony Purpura, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Brendan Daly, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Ben Cima, 23 Paul Lasike

Chile: 1 Vittorio Lastra, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Claudio Iturra, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Javier Richard (capt.), 7 Alfonso Escobar, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Beltrán Vergara, 10 José Tomás Baraona, 11 Ítalo Zunino, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 Javier Lavanderos, 14 Martín Raddatz, 15 Tomás Ianiszewski 16 Rodrigo Moya, 17 Basilio Díaz, 18 Marco Díaz, 19 Thomas Orchard, 20 Iñaki de Urruticoechea, 21 Domingo Saavedra, 22 José Tomás Maturana, 23 Diego Ramírez

USA Men’s Eagles Staff | 2018 Americas Rugby Championship
Gary Gold: Head Coach
Greg McWilliams: Assistant Coach – Backs & Attack
Scott Lawrence: Assistant Coach – Defense
Shawn Pittman: Assistant Coach – Set Piece
Chris Hanson: Team Manager
Dave Hodges: Men’s Eagles General Manager
Jimmy Harrison: Analyst
Kevin Ng: Head ATC
Brian Finn: Assistant ATC (Jan. 24 – Feb. 17)
Dr. Deborah Light: Team Doctor (Feb. 11 – Feb. 17)
Dr. Jeff Mjaanes: Team Doctor (Feb. 18 – Mar. 4)

The USA Men’s Eagles Americas Rugby Championship Expanded Squad

The USA Forwards: Titi Lamositele (Saracens, UK), Angus MacLellan (Utah Warriors), Huluholo Mo’ungaloa (Life West), Anthony Purpura (San Diego Legion), Paddy Ryan (Austin Elite), Dino Waldren (London Scottish, UK), Chance Wenglewski (Lindenwood), Dylan Fawsitt (Old Blue), James Hilterbrand (Sydney Rays, AU), Peter Malcolm (Austin Elite), Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors, UK), Nate Brakeley (NYAC), Nick Civetta (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Brendan Daly (SFGG), Matt Jensen (Utah Warriors), Ben Landry (Glendale Raptors), Malon Al-Jiboori (USA 7s), Cam Dolan (San Diego Legion), Hanco Germishuys (Austin Elite), Tony Lamborn (Hawke’s Bay, NZ), Aladdin Schirmer (Seattle Seawolves), Psalm Wooching (Seattle Saracens)

USA Backs: Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion), Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors), Ruben de Haas (Free State, SA), Devereaux Ferris (Life West), Ben Cima (San Diego Legion), Will Hooley (Bedford Blues, UK), Will Magie (Glendale Raptors), Dylan Audsley (San Diego Legion), Marcel Brache (Perth Spirit, AU), Bryce Campbell (Glendale Raptors), Paul Lasike (Utah Warriors), Alex Elkins (USA 7s), Ryan Matyas (San Diego Legion), Peni Tagive (USA 7s), Josh Whippy (Utah Warriors), Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues, UK), Mike Te’o (San Diego Legion)

USA Men’s Eagles | 2018 Americas Rugby Championship
vs Argentina XV – 17-10 (W)

vs Canada – 29-10 (W)

vs Chile, Sat, Feb. 17 | 5 PM ET, Titan Stadium, Fullerton, CA

vs Brazil, Sat, Feb. 24 | 2:40 PM ET, Martins Pereira Stadium, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil

vs Uruguay, Sat, Mar. 3 | 1:30 PM ET, Estadio Charrua, Montevideo, Uruguay