BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby confirmed Friday that top USA pros will be available for selection for the USA v New Zealand match to be played at Soldier Field Nov. 1.

Because this match falls outside the official November test match window - when pro clubs have to release players - USA Rugby and professional clubs, notably those in the Aviva Premiership in England, were in negotiations to release those players. However, the negotiations actually also affect players in France’s Top 14, Japan’s Top League, the Guinness Pro12, and the Greene King IPA Championship in England.

At PPL Park in Philadelphia, Pa., last year, the Eagles were without Premiership stars Samu Manoa, Blaine Scully, and Chris Wyles for the match against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks, and still the USA pushed the Maori to a 29-19 result, which was 22-19 with only a few inures to play. With a full compliment of domestic- and international-based players, the Eagles will have the best chance of challenging the world champions in Chicago.

North America falls under the IRB’s Northern Hemisphere release window, but the U.S. and Canada have limited competition within many of these weekends. USA Rugby has held talks with Premiership Rugby over the course of the past year to develop a long-term strategy that will allow for the Eagles to host more Tier 1 nations at home and guarantee player release for the summer window, RWC Qualification process, and the Rugby World Cup and its preparation.

“It’s a case of give and take,” USA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Nigel Melville said of the agreement with rugby clubs on player release. “The players want to play against New Zealand, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any Eagle, but without the clubs’ support they would not be available.

“The current Regulation 9 does not work for North America and ideally this will be changed in the future. Until that happens, we have to be creative and manage our professional players as best we can. Our goal every four years is to be increasingly competitive at the Rugby World Cup. In 2015 there is no Regulation 9 release period during the Pacific Nations Cup, when we will need our players to prepare. Having a positive working relationship with the professional clubs is therefore critical to achieving our goals.

“The November window will be a massive opportunity for those players on the cusp of World Cup selection and these are exciting times for our players and coaches.”

What this all means is that the top pro players - Samu Manoa, Chris Wyles, Scott LaValla, Blaine Scully, Cam Dolan, and Hayden Smith - will be available for selection against the All Blacks, but, with one or two exceptions, will not be available for selection for all, or possibly any, of the remaining November test matches (Romania, Tonga, and Fiji). USA captain Todd Clever is expected to be available for all of these matches.

Many of the players suiting up for the USA Selects at present will likely be needed in Europe in November.

“I am pleased to see the Premiership players released to play the All Blacks, an opponent that every rugby player wants to play during his career,” said USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin, who also has to be disappointed that he won't have the services of some of his top players for important rankings tests later in the month. “The Eagles will field the best team of players we have available to us, and that still consists of many strong and talented internationals. In some areas, there will be players who will be getting more of an opportunity than they would have otherwise had, and they have an opportunity to make the most of that chance. If they prove themselves, it will be a positive for that player and for the Eagles moving into 2015.”

USA Rugby essentially traded the All Blacks game for the rest of November, and with as many as 60,000 expected at Soldier Field to see the USA play New Zealand, a best foot forward in that game could well be seen as more important than getting Samu Manoa to play in Bucharest a week later.