High School All American Head Coach Salty Thompson will confirm his team to tour Argentina probably later this week.

 

The team will face Cordoba Academy, Argentina, and Italy in a demanding itinerary that Thompson believes sets the players up well for the rigors of international rugby.

 

They play Cordoba Academy July 16, Argentina U18s July 19, Italy U18s July 22, and Uruguay U18s July 26. They are taking advantage of a happy accident that Italy will be in Argentina at the same time, and thus this fabulous four-nation series.

 

Thompson has been at many of the Regional All-Star Tournaments, and has used a network of coaches to scout elsewhere. At every tournament he talks with players he likes, explaining the 17-day trip, and what it will entail.

 

He also scouted, of course, the major HS championships, and will take to Argentina a diverse group, with some new faces, and several who are looking to push for spots on college teams or perhaps follow in Titi Lamositele’s footsteps and a pro academy spot.

 

At the same time, Thompson is looking ahead.

 

“We’ve very much so been looking at JV select sides,” Thompson told Goff Rugby Report. “We’ve seen a lot of young talent there, maybe players who could be for the Stars & Stripes, or players we’re just tracking.”

 

While he is putting together this team, which assembles in a little over a week, Thompson will also be looking to help select the USA 7s team for the Youth Olympics. While former England great Ben Gollings will coach the team, it’s up to Thompson, Mike Engelbrecht, Andy Katoa, and others to get the talent lined up. 

 

It is likely that the team to go to Nanjing, China in August will have a number of players who will tour Argentina. What that means is, Thompson will have to manage his athletes. He wants to win games, but he also doesn’t want to run the potential Youth Olympics players into the ground.