USA Selects XV Americas Pacific Challenge Squad

USA Rugby Release by Aalina Tabani

The USA Men’s Selects have assembled for the Americas Pacific Challenge 2021 taking place October 22, October 26, and October 30 at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay. Led by Mike Tolkin as Head Coach, the 29-player squad will face Argentina XV, Brazil A, and Chile A across the three dates.

The broadcast will be confirmed in the coming week.

Roster Highlights

Alex Lopeti and Javon Camp-Vilalovos were selected from the USA Rugby Academy; Lopeti is the younger brother of recently capped Eagle Tavite Lopeti
9 players represent collegiate programs
18 players represent Major League Rugby clubs
Jack Wendling makes an appearance after recently being capped with USA Sevens at the Vancouver and Edmonton World Series tournaments

Six teams compete across two pools with the United States, Paraguay A, and Uruguay A were drawn in Pool B while Argentina XV, Brazil A, and Chile A fill Pool A. Each pool plays against the other with the winner determined on total competition points at the end.

The purpose of the Americas Pacific Challenge (APC) is to prepare the next generation of XVs players for international competition. Only two years remain until Rugby World Cup 2023 which makes it hugely important for national team prospects to face high-level competition to support the transition from development to senior national teams.

As the first secondary side for the USA Men’s XVs National Team, players who compete for the Selects are considered captured by international standards, which means they are committed to compete for the United States and no other nation.

Head Coach Mike Tolkin said:

“This tournament required that 80% of our roster be 23 and under. Since we have endeavored to increase the number of young, talented American rugby athletes through the MLR as well as the USA talent ID programs, we will put our process through the test in Uruguay.

“Those players now join the large pool of strong athletes who emerge from our more traditional university pathways. Of course, it makes selections more difficult, but we’re more than happy to deal with that situation.

“These are hungry players, eager to make an impression on the Eagle coaches and become viable options for our national team. Because of this individual drive and the excellence of the programs from which they come, we expect a highly motivated and hard-working group of men, constantly looking to compete and improve.

“As we have seen in the recent past, the South American teams are formidable opponents and our challenges are clear. While Argentina’s standards have been well-established over the years, all the other squads have become more comprehensive in the way they play the game and never lack in confidence.”

USA Men’s Selects Roster

NAME	POSITION	CLUB
Joseph Backe	Hooker	Utah Warriors
Harry Barlow	Center	New England Freejacks
Shane Barry	Flyhalf	University of California Los Angeles
Kyle Breytenbach	Back Row	Austin Gilgronis
Javon Camp-Vilalovos	Lock	USAR Academy
Corey Daniel	Back Row	DC Old Glory
Elijah Hayes	Prop	Utah Warriors
Charles Hewitt	Lock	Rugby United New York
Cael Hodgson	Center	New England Freejacks
Justin Johnson	Back Row	New England Freejacks
Karl Keane	Scrumhalf	St. Mary’s College of California
Alex Lopeti	Prop	USAR Academy
Patrick Madden	Fullback/Wing	San Diego Legion
Michael Matarazzo	Back Row	Dallas Jackals
Jared Miller	Prop	Life University
Ben Mitchell	Lock	San Diego Legion
Eric Naposki	Fullback/Wing	Dallas Jackals
Brian Nault	Prop	NOLA Gold
Cam Nelson	Prop	Central Washington University
Ivan Pula	Prop	Central Washington University
George Sharpe	Hooker	NOLA Gold
Owen Sheehy	Fullback/ Fly-Half	DC Old Glory
Nolan Tuamoheloa	Center	Utah Warriors
Colin Turner	Back Row	Davenport University
Tiai Vavao	Center	Central Washington University
Sam Walsh	Flyhalf	University of California Berkeley
Jack Wendling	Center	Central Washington University
Bailey Wilson	Back Row	Utah Warriors
Sean Yacoubian	Scrumhalf	New England Freejacks