The USA Men's 7s team got a double injury blow last week as Brett Thompson hurt himself in training and Kevin Swiryn injured his knee during the team's final game against Fiji.

Both are on their way back to the USA for surgery or treatment, while Martin Iosefo is off to Sydney for the next tournament. Iosefo was just coming into his own as a player for the Eagles when injury and school interrupted his progress. An effective runner out of the University of Montana, Iosefo was re-integrated into the team very carefully by Head Coach Mike Friday, who didn't want to rush him.

“We were super-cautious with Martin even though he participated fully in the last HP Camp, so he was not even considered for selection even though he looked razor-sharp," Friday told Goff Rugby Report.

The coach reasoned that Iosefo needed just a little more time, and maybe he has had it.

“We are two weeks on and by the time we start the tournament we will be three weeks on, and any slight medical concern has now fully disappeared. It is great to have Martin’s power and pace and footballing ability back in the 12. He is another runner in the middle of the pitch that defense will have to worry about.”

That’s good news for the USA, which struggled at times in Wellington to break through up the gut.

The USA is in Pool D in the Sydney 7s, with England, Wales, and Japan. They open against Wales on February 6 at 12:50pm, which is 5:50pm Friday, Feb 5 Pacific Time, or 8:50pm Friday Eastern Time.