USA men's 7s head coach Mike Friday has named his squad to play in the Silicon Valley 7s warmup tournament this weekend at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA.

Ben Pinkelman will captain a team that includes several experienced USA players, plus a few new faces.

Folau Niua, Maka Unufe, Stephen Tomasin, Martin Iosefo, and Pinkelman are all regulars on the USA's World Series team. Tomasin returns after being the top tackler in the 2016-17 World Series season.

Malon Al-Jiboori, Ryan Matyas, and Matai Leuta have all played with the USA team, as well. Anthony Welmers has had a look but remains basically a new player, and Joe Schroeder is definitely one.

Welmers was a big part of Utah Selects' national club 7s championship run.

Schroeder played rugby for the Royal Irish High School program in Indianapolis. A No. 8 in high school, he also played football and at Trine University was on the cheerleading squad before returning to rugby.

A big, rangy player with good ball skills, Schroeder will step in as a 7s prop.

Kevon Williams isn't so much a new player as one who has been knocking on the door for a while. A standout for a New Mexico Highlands team that won the National Small College 7s championships, Williams has been playing with the Denver Barbarians. Quick and elusive, he looks to be a center/wing.

Chris Mattina is a product of Xavier High School in New York City and went on to captain Delaware. A fireplug of a halfback, he can slot in as a scrumhalf or flyhalf.

Madison Hughes, the regular captain, is listed on the squad as the 13th man, and the implication is that he could be used sparingly. 

The USA team opens Pool C play against Tonga at 12:50 PM PT on Saturday. New Zealand and Chile are the other members of the four-team pool.

USA Rugby Men's Sevens | Silicon Valley Sevens

1. Malon Al-Jiboori

2. Ben Pinkelman (C)

3. Joe Schroeder

4. Matai Leuta

5. Ryan Matyas

6. Anthony Welmers

7. Folau Niua

8. Maka Unufe Jr.

9. Stephen Tomasin

10. Chris Mattina

11. Kevon Williams

12. Martin Iosefo

13. Madison Hughes

USA Men's Sevens Staff For Silicon Valley7s

Mike Friday - Head Coach

Chris Brown- Assistant Coach

Brian Green- Physio

Paul Goulding- Team Analyst

Sarah Sall - Team Manager