The USA Men’s Eagles Sevens entered the 2019 HSBC USA Sevens tied for first place with New Zealand and have started the Series with four consecutive silver medals. The Eagles Sevens team will defend their home title at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Mar 1-3.
Tickets are available at usasevens.com/las-vegas/tickets and all matches will be broadcast LIVE on various ESPN Networks including ESPNews, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPN+.
The USA Men’s Eagles Sevens opened the USA Sevens with a 26-10 win over Kenya and followed with a jolting 26-24 loss to Argentina as time expired. The USA will face France in their final Pool B match and will need a win to advance to the Cup Quarterfinals. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN News at 4:26 pm EST.
The USA vs Kenya
A Madison Hughes tackle off a Kenya 5-meter scrum created a turnover and led to a Carlin Isles try for a 5-0 lead. Stephen Tomasin had a try-saving tackle and Ben Pinkelman created a turnover with Isles finishing with a try under the posts. Hughes then converted for a 12-0 lead. A turnover Kenya then led to a Jacob Ojee try in the right corner to cut the lead to 12-5 at the break.
Early in the second half, there was a high tackle on Tomasin and Folau Niua kicked to touch for a 5-meter lineout. Pinkelman gathered and after two phases Tomasin added the team’s third try. Hughes then converted to push the lead to 19-5. After another lineout to the U.S., Kevon Williams offloaded to Hughes on a wrap-around and he then scored a try and a conversion for a 26-5 lead.
Kenya scored the final try as Vincent Onayala broke around a scrum and fended Kevon Williams to score a try, cutting the final score to 26-10.
The USA vs Argentina
The USA opened the match with a try by Carlin Isles from an offload after a USA lineout. The team then extended the lead to 12-0 after a high tackle on Ben Pinkelman that led to an Argentina yellow card. A Folau Niua dummy led to a try by Martin Iosefo and a conversion by Madison Hughes.
Argentina then answered back with a try and a conversion by Velez to cut the lead to 12-7. The Eagles extended their lead to 19-7 after a line break by Stephen Tomasin for a try with Hughes adding the conversion
Argentina claimed second-half kickoff and went through phases with Babier adding a try. A holding on penalty the led to a Luna try and a Mare conversion to level the match at 19 all.
Carlin Isles then dotted down to regain the lead 24-19. A late tackle on Isles then sent another Argentina player to the bin.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, a pass went into touch and Argentina was able to attack from a scrum with 35 seconds remaining in the match. That was enough for Gonzalez to score a try and for Mare to close out a 26-24 win with the conversion.
With the win, Argentina will win Pool B. The USA will need to beat France in the final pool match, while France will need either a win or a draw to advance to the Cup Quarterfinals as the second seed.
USA Men’s Eagles Sevens Squad
USA: 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 Stephen Tomasin 10 Madison Hughes (C) 11 Marcus Tupuola 12 Martin Iosefo 13 Ben Broselle
Men’s Eagles Sevens Staff
- Head Coach Mike Friday
- Assistant Coach Anthony Roques
- Assistant Coach Phil Greening
- Strength & Conditioning Coach Jon Hood
- Athletic Trainer Brian Green
- Team Manager Scott Novack
HSBC USA Sevens Schedule
Pool B Preview – Broadcast LIVE on various ESPN Networks All times Eastern
- vs Kenya W 26-10
- vs Argentina L 26-24
- vs France Sat, Mar 2 – 4:26 PM
- Knockout rounds for Pool B begin Sat, Mar 2 at 7:30 PM
