USA Men's 15s head coach Gary Gold has named most of what will become a 50-player training squad for test matches in 2019.

The players will be considered for selection for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup, as well as a Rugby World Cup warmup game with Canada, and then the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Not all will get to Japan, of course, as the RWC squad will be 31 players. Gold has named 40 right now, with ten more expected to be named as injury issues and other availabilities are sorted out.

Of the 50 players chosen, three are uncapped including Houston SaberCats’ Jamason Fa’anana Shultz, Seattle Seawolves’ Riekhart Hattingh, and Rugby United New York’s Ross Deacon. 

Longtime Eagles Mike Petri, Lou Stanfill, Thretton Palamo, and Ben Cima all have a chance to appear in the final World Cup squad having not played with the Men’s National Team in some time. Mikey Sosene-Feagal also joins the preliminary squad after earning four caps with the Eagles in 2016. 

The USA Men’s Sevens team is also now in the mix, with captain Madison Hughes, Martin Iosefo, and Ben Pinkelman all named.

“We’re really looking forward to working with this group of men over the next several months as our staff makes final preparations for Rugby World Cup," said Eagle Men's Team general manager Dave Hodges. "As Japan 2019 is set to be one of the most exciting and successful rugby events to do date, we as a program are heavily focused on improving upon our past World Cup performances, as a representation of the growth of rugby in the United States."

Hodges, who captained the USA in RWC 2003, where the Eagles produced their strongest performance, understands what it takes to play in the tournament.

“While the weeks and months to follow will be filled with tireless work, I’m confident that our coaches and staff will prepare these men not only for the Rugby World Cup," continued Hodges. "But four crucial matchups ahead of that in the Pacific Nations Cup and our final test match with Canada in Vancouver.” 

The Eagles will assemble next week in Colorado as the final stretch to Rugby World Cup begins. Beginning with the Pacific Nations Cup, the USA will face rival Canada at Infinity Park in Glendale on July 27, followed by Samoa and Japan in Fiji on August 3 and 10, respectively. 

One final test match between the U.S. and Canada will take place at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on September 7. That game will be LIVE on FloRugby.

The Eagles will then head to Japan to face England, France, Argentina, and Tonga in Pool C at Rugby World Cup 2019. 

For tickets to see the Men’s Eagles face Canada in Glendale and Vancouver, visit usarugby.org/tickets. 

For tickets to what promises to be the most popular Rugby World Cup to date and a full schedule, visit rugbyworldcup.com. 

USA MEN’S EAGLES PRELIMINARY TRAINING SQUAD RUGBY WORLD CUP JAPAN 2019 

USA MEN’S EAGLES STAFF 

General Manager | Dave Hodges

Head Coach | Gary Gold

Assistant Coach, Attack | Greg McWilliams

Assistant Coach, Set Piece | Shawn Pittman

Assistant Coach, Defense | Jaque Fourie

Strength & Conditioning Coach | Huw Bevan

Performance Analyst | Jimmy Harrison 

Assistant S&C and Analyst | Tom Kindley

Team Doctor | Mark Sakr 

Team Doctor | Sam Akhavan

Head Athletic Trainer | Kevin Ng

Athletic Trainer | Kristen Douhan

Massage Therapist | Daliah Hurwitz 

Team Manager | Chris Hanson

Assistant Team Manager | Mark Drown

USA MEN’S EAGLES SCHEDULE 

Pacific Nations Cup 

Broadcast info TBA

vs Canada

Sat, July 27 | 6 PM MT

Infinity Park, Glendale, CO

Purchase Tickets

vs Samoa

Fri, Aug 2 | 10:30 PM ET

Anz Stadium, Suva, Fiji

vs Japan

Sat, Aug 10 | 12:35 AM ET

Anz Stadium, Suva, Fiji

Rugby World Cup Warmup

LIVE on FloRugby

vs Canada

September 7 | 7 PM PT

B.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver, B.C.

Purchase Tickets

Rugby World Cup Japan 

Broadcast on NBC Networks

vs England

September 26 | 6:45 AM ET

Kobe Misaki Stadium

vs France

October 2 | 3:45 AM ET 

Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium

vs Argentina

October 9 | 12:45 AM ET

Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

vs Tonga

October 13 | 1:45 AM ET

Hanazono Rugby Stadium