The USA Men’s Eagles 7s team has named their squad for the upcoming opening two legs of the HSBC World Sevens Series to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from the 4-5th of December and to be followed a week later in Cape Town, South Africa. Madison Hughes will captain the the side coached by Former England and Kenya coach Mike Friday.
Head Coach Mike Friday has named seasoned campaigners in speedsters Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, elusive leader Zack Test, playmaker Folau Niua and hardman Maka Unufe while returnees Kevin Swiryn and Brett Thompson bolster the squad in the absence of the injured duo of the hard running Danny Barrett and Martin Iosefo.
Dubai 7s: USA Men’s Eagles 7s Team named, Fiji replaces ineligible player
Brett Thompson returns to the fold after a stint with Edinburgh of the Guiness PRO 12 at the end of the 2013-14 sevens series and was a member of travelling 13 to North Carolina for the this summer’s 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships where the U.S. qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games. Following a bronze-medal campaign at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, Thompson was one of the five then-residents to be selected to the Rugby World Cup in England.
Kevin Swiryn was last seen in the final round of the 2009-10 season in London and last wore an Eagles jersey for the 15s team against Australia at Rugby World Cup 2011. After retiring from International play due to injury troubles during his time with French Top 14 side Agen, Swiryn returned to the game with Seattle Saracens in 2013 and had since won two Club 7s National Championship with the Washington-based club. With Martin Iosefo and Danny Barett injured and Big Fijian Andrew Durutalo away playing professionally abroad, Swiryn And Thompson inclusion brings realibilty and experience to the squad.
Mike Friday on Kevin Swiryn
“Kevin has intergrated well into the group and is working hard with the boy. He has to play catch-up but his enthusiasm and commitment to learn cannot be faulted”
Coach Mike Friday on Brett Thompson
“Brett has returned looking sharp and fresh and has been training well. I am excited to see Brett in these first two legs because he looks to be back playing with real confidence.”
Garett Bender, who has made 16 appearances on the circuit since debuting in Wellington in 2012, will shore up the forwards alongside Will Holder, Test and Thompson as well as Matai Leuta, the Fijian player who returns to the series after a breakout four tournaments in 2015 before an injury prematurely ended his campaign.
“We started to see Bender come of age at the start of the 2015 season and he is a great aerial player as well as strong smart player in the contact area, where his decision making and technical execution has become so efficient.” said Friday
USA is in Pool C with France, Portugal and New Zealand in Dubai, the Eagles will look to rectify past struggles they had in the past in the early goings of the Series. Since the 2011-12 Series, the U.S. has gained a combined 18 points from the first leg compared to 39 from the Final leg in the same time span.
“We have Portugal first up and all our energies will be to perform so we can try to beat them. We will then turn our attention to France, and only then we will focus on New Zealand – and we are all looking forward to taking them on as they are deemed to be one of the best in the World of Sevens alongside Fiji and South Africa, that is what we want to be associated with.” said Friday
“We are hoping New Zealand brings their 15s stars, such as Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam as not only will it be great for the game, we can have an early hit-out and test ourselves. We, as always, see ourselves as competitors and will rise to any challenge and believe we have the capability and firepower to win. Every time we take the the field you will see a fully-committed Eagles team playing and believing they are capable of winning.” Mike Friday speaking to usarugby.org
With the win at the Marriott London Sevens still fresh in peoples minds this team have lots in their shoulders to carry that success through, they have the core of the team but missing Durutalo, Barett and big Thretton Palamo. They have never started well in the past and are looking to change that with Mike Friday at the helm.
Meanwhile, defending Series champs Fiji had to replace Emori Waqanivulag from the team due to his early appearance with the Sri Lanka 7s and 15s level and therefore capped under World Rugby Regulations for Sri Lanka. Fiji Rugby Union has sought an urgent ruling from the World Rugby Regulations Committee on Waqa’s eligibility to play for Fiji and that has commenced. In his place Head Coach Ben Ryan has named debutant Alifereti Veitokani from the champion Nadroga side to replace Waqanivulagi. The former Vatukoula flyhalf had an outstanding season with Nadroga and wants to carry that through with 7s team. Fiji will meet Canada, Japan and Argentina in Pool play in Dubai.
USA Team:
Carlin Isles
Matai Leuta
Brett Thompson
Garett Bender
Zack Test
Kevin Swiryn
Folau Niua
Maka Unufe
Nate Augspurger
Madison Hughes (c)
Perry Baker
Will Holder
Canada Names Experienced Squad
Canada coach Liam Middleton selects an experienced squad to open the 2015-16 HSBC World Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town.
John Moonlight will captain the side with familiar faces to face Fiji, Argentina and Japan. Also featuring in the team are Rugby World Cup 2015 stars Harry Jones, Phil Mack, Conor Trainor and Nathan Hirayama.
Canada Squad:
Admir Cejvanovic, Justin Douglas, Sean Duke, Mike Fualeifau, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Pat Kay, Phil Mack, John Moonlight (c), Conor Trainor, Sean White, Adam Zaruba.
Argentina to improve standings
Argentina captain Fernando Luna says his side are determined to improve on last year’s eighth place finish in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, as they prepare for the big kick-off in Dubai.
Argentina Squad
Santiago Alvarez, Renzo Barbier, Sebastian Cancelliere, Rodrigo Etchart, Bautista Ezcurra, Fernando Luna (c), Axel Muller, Santiago Resino, Gaston Revol, Joaquin Riera, Franco Sabato, German Schulz.
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