Twenty-seven players are in the USA Men’s 7s team selection camp, but that doesn't mean they have 27 equal chances of making the team.

Head Coach Mike Friday told Goff Rugby Report that he wants to have an environment where players are feeling pushed, and the program is getting there, but he’s not there yet. 

“It’s a tall ask to get into that squad of 12,” said Friday. “But if it were easy, then we’d really be in trouble. A lot of the players are here to see what’s expected and to experience the intensity level that’s needed.”

Still, you get the feeling Friday would like the intensity level for the very top group of players to get a bump, too.

“Right now we want to depend the pool and make sure everyone knows that the team is open to all if they’re willing to do the work,” said the coach. “And we don’t want anyone to take anything for granted.”

It’s a massive step up for many of the players. Friday said he is still coming to grips with the size of this country, which means players such as Ahmad Haraily just have a hard time being seen or getting to a place to try out for a team. 

“This is a problem that Mags [Alex Magleby] has taken on and it’s a tough job to identify players.”

So that means that many players at camp are self-starters. Walter Elder is a former Kansas State standout who has made the effort to get tougher competition, playing with Atlantis. Haraily went to the recent recruitment camp and got invited back as a result. Mataiyasi Leuta is another one who went to the recruitment camp. Coming from a college that’s really not on the rugby radar (CSU Monterey Bay) he had to put himself out there another way. Glen Thommes is a former All American and HS All American who has played a lot with Atlantis, but because his college program (Delaware) is on long-term suspension, he had work to do to be seen. Zach Pangelinan has been in and out of the USA program for the last six years. Nate Brakeley was a huge (pun intended) part of Dartmouth’s success in 2011-2012. The former All American has a massive stride and is good in the air. After playing for Cambridge University, he's a classic graduated college player, working and playing in New York, and trying to see what else he can do in the game.

 

Falcons Eval

All of the players who played for the USA Falcons in South America were invited (Derek Lipscomb couldn’t make it). The Falcons went 2-4 in Mar Del Plata, and 3-3 in Vina Del Mar. There were positives from the trip, but Friday was distinctly muted in his celebration.

“I have mixed emotions about how it went,” said Friday. “I was disappointed with the results. In Chile we let ourselves down against Canada and that game shows that you can’t take anything for granted, because if you do, you’ll get burned.”

Canada was 2-10 in the same two tournaments.

“We made some unfortunate decisions against Chile and needed to be more engaged. The trip was a lesson for us about eliminating mistakes, sticking to a game plan, and playing as a team instead of looking for individual glory.”

And that last, said Friday, will be how players break into the squad of 12. 

“It should be a team effort,” said Friday. “We can’t sacrifice what the team needs for a specific individual. We spent a lot of time watching how they did off the field as well as on.”

There have been players who are regulars in the World Series who have made that mistake. 

So it’s likely that even with the 27 players in camp, that Madison Hughes, Folau Niua, Zack Test, Maka Unufe, Dany Barrett, Carlin Isles, Perry Baker, and Martin Iosefo will, barring injury, be on the team. Andrew Durutalo probably will be on the squad, too. Then there’s an intense competition, probably between Garrett Bender, Pat Blair, Nic Edwards, Aladdin Schirmer, Will Holder, and probably two or three others, for those other three spots.  

 

USA 7s Camp List

Perry Baker

Danny Barrett

Garrett Bender

Pat Blair

Nate Brakeley

Colton Cariaga

Andrew Durutalo

Nic Edwards

Walter Elder

Ahmad Harajly

Will Holder

Madison Hughes

Martin Iosefo

Carlin Isles

Ben Leatigaga

Mataiyasi Leuta

Folau Niua

Zack Pangelinan

Aladdin Schirmer

Pila Taufa

Mike Te'o

Zack Test

Glen Thommes

Stephen Tomasin

Jack Tracy

Chris Turori

Maka Unufe