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Roster for US Military Team Tour of UK Set

irish rugby tours

Roster for US Military Team Tour of UK Set

Former USA 7s player Cody Melphy will help lead the US Military team. David Barpal photo.

The USA All-Military team has finalized its roster for its November tour of England.

The US Military side will be coached by Allen Clarke, DOR and Head Coach of the Seattle Seawolves and he is assisted by former Fiji 7s Program Manager Gareth Baber. Former USA captain Scott LaValla is also rumored to be assisting.

Goff Rugby Report will be touring with this team and reporting from the tour throughout the first part of November. The team will be in the UK November 3-13, and will play the British Army and the Royal Air Force. They will also participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11, and attend the USA vs Australia test match on November 9.

The touring squad of 28 includes players from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Active duty, reserve, and veteran players were included, and in fact about half the layers are Active Duty. Six more are in the Army Reserve or the National Guard. Eight of the players are veterans who have already served.

The roster includes former USA 7s team captain Cody Melphy, 2022 Rudy Scholz Award-winner Larry Williams as well as two of his teammates on the 2021-22 D1A champion West Point team in KoiKoi Nelligan and Collin Grosse. Former Eagle John Cullen leads the forwards. The team includes both officers and enlisted, and their playing resumes include D1A, Major League Rugby, and rugby clubs from at least 24 states and six other countries.

Several have played for the military 7s team for their branch (All-Navy, All-Army, etc.), as well as major select sides such as the USA Falcons, Panther Rugby Academy. One player, Daniel Gabrielli, actually played for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which is where the tourists will be staying during the trip. 

Roster for 2024 US Military Rugby Tour of UK

(V= Veteran; AD=Active Duty; NG=National Guard; R=Reserve). Some changes still possible.

Name  Military Service  Former Teams Include:
FORWARDS    
Wilisoni Vasukilakeba Navy-V All Navy, Houston Sabercats
Collin Grosse Army-R Army West Point, USA Falcons, Old Glory DC
Dacoda Worth Army-V Indiana U., All Army, Chicago Hounds, Old Glory DC
Michael Bressler Marines-AD USNA Rugby, All-Marine Corps
Larry Williams Jr Army-AD Army West Point, USA U23s
Thomas Reyes Jr Navy-AD San Diego Legion, Syrako Rugby Club
KoiKoi Nelligan Army-R Army West Point, USA Falcons, Old Glory DC
William Vaughn Air Force-AD Air Force Academy, Army Air Force Flying Tigers
Tyler Hovis Air Force-AD Cannons AFB Headhunters, Rapid City Dead Presidents
Daniel Gabrielli Army-AD Temple U., Shippensburg U. Royal Military Acad. Sandhurst
Michael Fletcher Navy-R All Navy, USA South Panthers
Brian Bidder Navy-V All Navy, All Marine Corps
Jackson Bristol Air Force-AD Air Force Academy, Glendale Raptors, All-Air Force
George Smith Army-NG The Knights Templar, Letchworth Garden city
Drew Dawson Air Force-AD Bragg Rugby, Okaloosa Islanders
John Cullen Army-V U. Utah, Seattle-OPSB, USA
     
BACKS    
Cody Melphy Army-V All-Army, USA 7s
Faleniko Spino Army-AD Auburn U., All-Marine Corps
J'son Townes Marines-V OMBAC, Belmont Shore, PAC, Md Exiles, NOVA
Logan Legg Army-NG TCU, All-Army, Austin Blacks
Matthew McDaniels Coast Guard-V USMMA, All-Coast Guard, Washington RFC
Clifford Davidson Jr Army-V All-Army
Mattie Tago Army-AD All-Army, Experts PR7s, Denver Barbarians
Sili Masina Jr Army-NG All Army, AK Manu Bears, AK Misfits
Shane Palmer Army-AD Ridgefield Tigers HS, UConn, Colo. Springs Grizzlies
Alexander Vinkavich Coast Guard-AD All-Coast Guard, SFGG
Collin Argue Navy-AD USNA Rugby, All-Navy
Michael Rivera Army-NG All-Army, Fort Bragg, Arctic Legion