The USA Rugby Men's Collegiate All Americans are about to set off for Australia and there is one change in the touring roster.

Central Washington star Tanner Barnes has been unable to fully shake a hamstring injury, and he has been replaced by another CWU player in Scott Dean. 

All Americans Head Coach Gavin Hickie said the loss of Barnes is a shame, but center is a hugely competitive position on the squad, and there is plenty of depth there. So Dean, who projects as a flyhalf, might bring a new wrinkle to the depth chart as an extra playmaker.

The team flies out Sunday night (tonight), and will arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday morning. Then they travel out to Toowoomba, Queensland, where, as Hickie put it, "we put our bags down on the floor and get out on the pitch."

The players have been working remotely with Assistant Coach James Willocks on preparing to deal with jet lag, and also have been in contact with Willocks on their fitness scores. All of the players who haven't graduated are working with their college strength & conditioning staff to stay game fit during the summer. This is crucial, because the team really only has five sessions before they take on Darling Downs Selects on August 6 (local time).

The players are also expected to be on top of the playbook.

"We've been using the Bridge Athletic technology to monitor the guys' fitness and it's been pretty successful," said Hickie. "The playbook is modified from the senior Eagles playbook, and the Eagles staff have been fantastic to work with in helping us. We've simplified it a bit, but we expect players to be ready."

After Tuesday's session, the players will run two-a-days on Wednesday and Thursday, before a captain's run on Friday and the first game of the three-game tour on Saturday.

"The boys are in and organized and we're feeling really good about it," said Hickie.

Updated Men's Collegiate All-American Touring Squad

Malon Al-Jiboori - Lindenwood University
Dylan Audsley - Saint Mary's College of California
Tanner Barnes - Central Washington University
Niall Barry - University of California, Los Angeles
Alec Barton - Saint Mary's College of California
Roland Blackiston - California State University, Long Beach
Zach Bonte - University of California, Los Angeles
Nick Boyer - University of California, Berkeley
Bryce Campbell - Indiana University
Scott Dean - Central Washington University (new addition)
Chad Gough - University of Utah
Wes Hartmann - Kutztown University
Viliami Helu - Saint Mary's College of California
Matt Jensen - Brigham Young University
Cody Jerabek - Sacramento Express (PRO) / University of Wyoming
Timothy Katz - James Madison University
Conor Kearns - Trinity College Dublin
Faaitua Laei - Brigham Young University
Vetekina Malafu - Kutztown University
Alex Maughan - Life University
Cody Melphy - Life University
Deion Mikesell - Lindenwood University
Kevin O'Connor - Saint Mary's College of California
Mason Pedersen - San Diego Breakers (PRO) / University of Arizona
Mike Ruther - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Aladdin Schirmer - Central Washington University
Alexander Vorster - Brigham Young University
Dino Waldren - Saint Mary's College of California
Chance Wenglewski - Lindenwood University
Calvin Whiting - Brigham Young University

Men's Collegiate All-Americans Coaching Staff
Gavin Hickie - Head Coach
Justin Hickey - Manager
Greg McWilliams - Assistant Coach
James Willocks - Assistant Coach
Ben Schuler - Athletic Trainer

Tour Itinerary:
v. Darling Downs Select Side - Saturday, Aug. 6 @ 17:00 AET - Gold Park Sporting Club, Toowoomba, Australia
v. Brothers Rugby Football Club - Wednesday, Aug. 10 @ 18:00 AET - Crosby Park, Brisbane, Australia
v. Queensland Premier Barbarians - Sunday, Aug. 14 @ 16:00 AET - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Australia