USA Rugby Release
SHAWNIGAN LAKE, B.C. – Head Coach Scott Bracken has named his match-day roster for the USA Men’s U20s’ first match of the World Rugby Trophy Qualifier Series against rival-Canada tonight.
Kickoff is set for 8:10 PM ET on facebook.com/RugbyCanada.
A total of 26 players will dress as part of the match-day roster, 15 starters, and 11 reserves, though only up to eight reserves will see playing time.
2018 Team USA Youth Olympians Inoke “Junior” Waqavesi and Lauina Falatea both earned starting positions at wing and center, respectively.
The reserves feature three players not listed in the original full squad including Doug Mitchell, Jasper Green, and Royce Fisher. Mitchell received the call-up for Matt Meehan who was unable to attend due to Army responsibilities, Green — also a 2018 Team USA Youth Olympian — jumped in for Eric Naposki. Fisher was a late addition.
Head Coach Scott Bracken said: “We have selected a staring group and finishers that we think will give us a good opportunity to compete against a very good and experienced Canada team. Selections were difficult due to the overall quality of players in camp. This is a credit to the player development work being done at clubs and colleges around the country.”
The finale of the Qualifier series will be played on June 8 at 8:10 PM ET, also LIVE on facebook.com/RugbyCanada. The team who has the highest aggregate score by the end of the two-match series will earn qualification to the World Rugby Trophy tournament in Brazil next month.
USA MEN’S U20s STARTERS
|
PLAYER NAME |
POSITION |
CLUB/COLLEGE |
|
1. Jack Wiles |
Prop |
St. Bonaventure University |
|
2. Jack Manzo |
Hooker |
University of California, Berkeley |
|
3. Jared Miller |
Prop |
Life University |
|
4. Sam Golla |
Lock |
University of California, Berkeley |
|
5. Asa Carter |
Lock |
Arkansas State |
|
6. Chase Jones |
Flanker |
St. Mary’s College of California |
|
7. Miles McCormick |
Flanker |
OMBAC |
|
8. Bailey Wilson (C) |
No 8 |
Utah Valley University |
|
9. Ethan McVeigh |
Scrumhalf |
Cardiff Metropolitan University |
|
10. Mike Weir |
Flyhalf |
Dartmouth College |
|
11. Inoke Waqavesi |
Wing |
USA Sevens Residency Program |
|
12. Lauina Falatea |
Center |
USA Sevens Residency Program |
|
13. Jack Wendling |
Center |
Central Washington University |
|
14. Ryan James |
Wing |
San Diego Legion |
|
15. Sam Walsh |
Fullback |
University of California |
USA MEN’S U20s RESERVES
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB/SCHOOL |
| 16. Braden Looper | Reserve | University of Arizona |
| 17. Doug Mitchell | Reserve | Central Washington University |
| 18. Alex Lopeti | Reserve | LifeWest Gladiators |
| 19. Matt Gelhaus | Reserve | Kutztown |
| 20. Chris Noggle | Reserve | Santa Barbara Academy |
| 21. Jeff Peleseuma-Breiz | Reserve | San Francisco Golden Gate |
| 22. Cole Semu | Reserve | BYU |
| 23. Jasper Green | Reserve | Dartmouth College |
| 24. Will Vakalahi | Reserve | DC Old Glory |
| 25. Luke Freeman | Reserve | University of California, Berkeley |
| 26. Royce Fisher | Reserve | Santa Barbara Academy |
USA MEN’S U20 STAFF
Head Coach | Scott Bracken
Assistant Coach, Attack | Brendan O’Meara
Assistant Coach, Defense | Michael Engelbrecht
Assistant Coach, Set Piece | Liam Harnett
Athletic Trainer | Santiago Aquirre
Performance Analyst | Jake Sullivan
Operations Manager | Kevin McCorry
WORLD RUGBY TROPHY QUALIFIER SERIES
Streamed LIVE on Rugby Canada’s Facebook Page
Tues, June 4 vs Canada U20s 8 PM ET
Sat, June 8 vs Canada U20s 8 PM ET
ABOUT THE USA MEN’S U20s
Under-20s or U20s (formerly known as Junior All-Americans) are athletes ages 19-20 years old who participate in a club or collegiate level rugby program. Unlike the High School and Collegiate All-American programs, there is no requirement for U20s to be attached to a scholastic program; athletes can compete with a senior club, professional team or university program. The U20s participate in formal international competitions such as the U20 Women’s Tri-Nations Cup and U20 Men’s World Rugby Trophy. The U20 program is primarily 15s but expected to expand into 7s as World Rugby offers an additional opportunity for competition.
