The USA will be playing Argentina, England, and Ireland in the U20 World Championships in July.
This will be a massive challenge for the American team. Played in Tbilisi, Georgia, the JWC will be a key step in the USA building their future national team.
USA U20 Men’s Head Coach Johannes "Neets" Gericke has had the team together working and that assembly time is crucial. With the JWC expanded to be one tournament (instead of the JWC and then a 2nd-tier World Trophy), this is a chance for the Junior Eagles to test themselves against players they will face as senior national team players, as well.
It's a big deal, said Gericke.
Noticeable within the squad is a significant percentage of players who have rugby experience overseas. All of the players are USA-eligible, but 14 of the 37 played their formative rugby years overseas and also college or senior rugby. Three others played school rugby overseas and came to the USA to play in college, while three others did the opposite, playing their HS rugby in the USA but going to college overseas.
And add in another aspect, with two of the players in the player pool having received the US Rugby Foundation's Nelson College Scholarship and played overseas that way.
"I wouldn't say the overseas players have more game understanding, but their reaction times are a little bit quicker, and I think it comes down to them playing a little bit more rugby," Gericke told GRR.
One of the differences between American college rugby and overseas college rugby, Gericke added, is that in the USA when teams play each other you might get an A-side and B-side match, but often it's just one game. Overseas, multiple levels play on game day, so players who don't make the 1st side have a better chance at playing.
Still, it's worth pointing out that these players have come from all over the country.
"We are taking the best players we have and creating a team that's needed for the competition," added Gericke. "There are a number of players at that age grade, but only a handful that have the aibility to compete at that level. We have them together and we're working toward a game plan a profile and a mentality that is needed to compete at that level. We have the size and we are building our mental physicality and technical ability."
The USA will kick off their JWC campaign in Tbilisi's Avchala Stadium against Argentina on Saturday, June 27, followed by England on Thursday, July 2, and then finishing up pool play against Ireland on Tuesday, July 7.
"We know we will have extremely long travel days. We know we will face intense competition," said the coach. "We know it will be hot in Georgia. We know our recovery resources are limited. We are preparing the team to embrace all challenges. I can't wait to see how this team rises above all these challenges and shows bravery on and off the field."
