Roster for US Military Team Tour of UK Set
Roster for US Military Team Tour of UK Set
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 |