The USA Men’s National 15s team needs a new coach, and word is that USA Rugby is getting close to making its choice.

While we’ve heard plenty of rumors as to who has applied, we’ll leave all of that up to the decision-makers. We do know that Mike Tolkin re-applied for the job.

The list has been pared down from several dozen to the final short list of candidates who will likely get a look-over from the Board.

But, USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville did say that it’s important not to rush.

This might seem a little worrisome, given that the Eagles take the field in less than two months, on the weekend of February 6, when they host Argentina at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. 

The following four weekends all feature games for the Eagles in the new Americas Rugby Championship competition. There’s lots to consider in this competition, most notably, as Goff Rugby Report has written about, the need to maintain communication with players who are potentially going to be playing in the tournament.

That job will possibly fall to High Performance Director Alex Magleby, given that in the GRR article we state that the Eagle coaching staff is responsible for keeping up with players. But since there is no Eagle coaching staff, somebody else has to step into the fray.

And the lack of an official staff spills over into team management. The individuals whose job it is to reserve hotel rooms, secure practice facilities, and basically map out the team’s schedule leading up to games, are not currently on staff. That all has to be done soon.

Melville told Goff Rugby Report that it’s important to pick the right coach, rather than rush the decision because of a deadline. That implies that you could see an interim Head Coach is the decision-making drags on. But while picking the top guy won’t carry much urgency, there is still the matter of a team needing to be picked, housed, fed, and prepared for a five-game competition in February.