Short backgrounds on each player on tour with the USA Men's 15s National Team for August, 2023.

The Backs

Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion, 36 caps)

Played his HS rugby for Southside in Minnesota and then an All American at the University of Minnesota, Augspurger is a scrumhalf who has often suited up on the wing for the USA. He has captained the Eagles at times also and is a versatile and vocal leader. 

Dominic Besag (Saint Mary’s, 0 caps)

A standout for De La Salle HS last year Besag broke into the Saint Mary’s starting lineup as a freshman. He then made the USA U20 team, which he captained. A powerful center who is a leader and clearly unafraid to make his mark with older players, he has enormous potential.

Tommaso Boni (Zebre, 0 caps)

The relatively new World Rugby rule that allows players to switch countries one time after being capped works here as Boni, who suited up 11 times for Italy and played over 100 times for his pro club, Zebre, now makes the move to the USA. Boni, who is 30 and certainly counts as a veteran, has a grandfather who was born in the USA, which qualifies him for the Eagles. A tall, powerful center he will bring a certain professionalism to the group.

Luke Carty (Chicago Hounds, 4 caps)

Irish born and USA qualified through a grandparent, Carty got his first cap on the USA’s tour of the UK in 2021. A very good goalkicker who often finds himself behind AJ MacGinty in the depth chart at flyhalf, the 25-year-old is solid in contact, kicks smartly, and is a strong distributor.

Ruben De Haas (Cheetahs, 28 caps) (David Barpal photo)

De Haas was all-everything for the Arkansas Junior Stormers as a high-schooler and captained EIRA and USA age-grade teams on tour. He made his USA debut when he was a teenager and now at 24 is a taller, more seasoned, and perhaps more serious version of himself. At times spectacular and sometimes perhaps a bit too spectacular, the scrumhalf just completed two years at Saracens and will return to the Cheetahs in South Africa’s Free State, where he played previously. He’s put on some size of late and he remains a very skillful and explosive #9.

Christian Dyer (Houston SaberCats, 7 caps)

A product of Jesuit HS Sacramento and Cal, Dyer is the latest in that long pipeline and a very popular outside back in American rugby. Fun to talk to, smart, and definitely a player who has try-scoring ability, he has a really good chance here to grab hold of the wing position and keep it.

Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves, 0 caps)

A compact, powerful wing/center Futi was born in American Samoa (which automatically gives him eligibility for the Eagles) and is a shifty and exciting player. At 27 he’s not super young for a new cap but he is very explosive.

Mike Kruse (Utah Warriors, 4 caps)

Kruse is a center, wing, and perhaps even. Fullback at times. Very quick and excellent in the air, Kruse is at his best when the USA is playing fast and a bit wild. Conservative Kruse is not the best Kruse. 

Line Latu (American Raptors, 0 caps)

Another stepper with an eye toward breaking tackles, Late is a flyhalf for the American Raptors who had his teeth cut in a challenge Super Rugby Americas league. What he learned there was to play fast and be really, really good with his passes. The more we see him, to more we might see a different offensive look from the Eagles.

Tavite Lopeti (Seattle Seawolves, 5 caps)

A product of Peninsula Green and then Saint Mary’s Lopeti impressed in his opening showings for the USA. At 24 he is poised to become the man in the midfield for a team that needs him.

Chris Mattina (Chicago Hounds, 0 caps)

A product of Xavier HS in New York and the University of Delaware, Martina was a tweeter 7s player for the USA who was quick enough to be out in the open and powerful enough to work in the scrums. As a 15s player he is a versatile back who is very comfortable in contact. While not capped he is a good, experienced professional to have on the squad.

Nick McCarthy (Leinster, 0 caps)

McCarthy grew up playing rugby in Ireland and went through the Irish age-grade system. He has appeared over 80 times for Leinster and Munster, playing scrum half. He qualifies for the USA because he was born in Michigan. He provides a really interesting option at scrumhalf and the 28-year-old will certainly push Ruben De Haas for playing time. 

Mitch Wilson (New England, - caps)

Captained Life University and is one of those players you look at and say “international rugby? Really?” But he is very good in contact, smart enough to avoid getting slammed, and a very smart fullback. Like many of the players on this roster he has leadership qualities.