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Eagles Pick Lineup to Face Portugal

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Eagles Pick Lineup to Face Portugal

Mitch Wilson on the run for the USA. David Barpal photo.

COIMBRA, Portugal – The USA Men’s Eagles return to the international pitch this Saturday, opening their three-match November tour against Portugal in Coimbra, a small city just north of Lisbon.

Veteran names return to the squad, including flyhalf AJ MacGinty, while three selected players will look ahead to their USA Eagles debuts. USA vs Portugal kicks off on Saturday, November 9 at 11:00am ET, live on FloRugby.

Three Major League Rugby rising stars earn their first international roster selection, in Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion), Tomas Casares (Miami Sharks), and 2024 first overall draft pick Erich Storti (Anthem Rugby Carolina) looking to secure USA Eagle numbers. Klein will start at hooker, while Casares and Storti are named to the reserves. Casares was a late addition to the traveling roster in place of Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz. Michael Grandy of Anthem was also called into camp; he replaces Thomas Tu’avao.

This is the third time in as many years that the USA has faced Portugal, the last two editions resulting in a tie and loss for the Eagles. Of the 23 rostered last summer, 10 will be on the foeldthis Saturday in the rematch, with the same balance expected from Portugal.

Head Coach and General Manager Scott Lawrence said on the opening match, “Our goal this tour remains the same from the Pacific Nations Cup, to compete and get better each week. This Saturday is our first opportunity to do that. What we’ll take into consideration is who we’re playing and what they’re going to bring, but as always focus on our own performance objectives. Portugal is coming off an extensive Rugby World Cup campaign, so we’ll face a cohesive team that will be a good test of our focus as a young team, looking to stay switched on for all 80 minutes.”

USA Lineup to Face Portugal
NAME CLUB CAPS
1. Jack Iscaro Old Glory DC 10
2. Shilo Klein San Diego Legion Debut
3. Alex Maughan Anthem Rugby Carolina 6
4. Jason Damm RFCLA 6
5. Greg Peterson (C) San Diego Legion 48
6. Viliami Helu San Diego Legion 11
7. Cory Daniel Old Glory DC 7
8. Paddy Ryan San Diego Legion 11
9. Ruben DeHaas Cheetahs 33
10. AJ MacGinty Bristol Bears 37
11. Nate Augspurger Chicago Hounds 46
12. Tavite Lopeti Seattle Seawolves 17
13. Dominic Besag Saint Mary's College 6
14. Conner Mooneyham Anthem Rugby Carolina 5
15. Mitch Wilson Anthem Rugby Carolina 11
     
Reserves    
16. Kapeli Pifeleti Saracens 15
17. Jake Turnbull Anthem Rugby Carolina 11
18. Pono Davis Houston Sabercats 3
19. Tomas Casares Miami Sharks Debut
20. Tesimoni Tonga'uiha NOLA Gold 9
21. Ethan McVeigh Old Glory DC 2
22. Erich Storti Anthem Rugby Carolina Debut
23. Luke Carty Unattached 21