USA Rugby Men’s Eagles Sevens & 2018 Dubai Sevens
USA Rugby Men’s Eagles Head Coach Mike Friday has announced his squad for the Dubai Sevens which begins Friday, November 30th ET. The team will face Spain at 12:00 AM ET, Wales at 3:22 am and New Zealand at 9:22 am on Friday.
The 2018-2019 Sevens Series competition is important for another reason this year. The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. The USA can’t afford to take any team or tournament lightly and will need to perform to their highest caliber to achieve that goal.
The USA Men’s Eagles Maceo Brown should gain his first cap, while Marcus Tupuola, another uncapped player is along in case of an inury.
Earlier in the week, Perry Baker won his second-consecutive World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year honors. Despite missing some time at the end of the series season, he still finished 5th in tries scored with 37 tries. Fellow speedster Carlin Isles finished first in tries scored with 49 and 4th in total points scored with 247. Both Baker and Isles accounted for 41% of all tries scored by the USA men.
Folau Niua is expected to make his 60th World Rugby Sevens Series appearance and he is one player whose leadership and the ability to kick restarts accurately with either foot, has to lead to the USA being the Series restart leader in maintaining possession.
Captain Madison Hughes will make his first appearance for the senior Men’s Sevens program in four months.
Preview article.
Men’s Eagles Sevens Roster: 1 Carlin Isles 2 Ben Pinkelman 3 Danny Barrett 4 Matai Leuta 5 Brett Thompson 6 Kevon Williams 7 Folau Niua 8 Maceo Brown* 9 Steve Tomasin 10 Madison Hughes (Captain) 11 Perry Baker 12 Martin Iosefo 13 Marcus Tupuola*
*Could make their first HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series appearance. All players are part of the Men’s Sevens residency program.
Men’s Eagles Sevens Staff
Head Coach Mike Friday
Assistant Coach Anthony “Rocky” Roques
Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Long
Athletic Trainer Brian Green
Team Manager Scott Novack
Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens Schedule
Pool C – Broadcast LIVE on ESPN Networks
vs Spain Fri, Nov. 30 – 12 AM ET
vs Wales Fri, Nov. 30 – 3 AM ET
vs New Zealand Fri, Nov. 30 – 9:22 AM ET
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