David Ainu’u will boost the USA squad for their upcoming European tour. The Toulouse prop had earlier this year withdrawn from Eagles contention, but is now set to add to his 23 test caps. Ainu’u is one of five players who will miss out on the Scotland test that falls outside of World Rugby’s release window.
A pair of uncapped locks are named in Rick Rose and Brandon Harvey, while former Eagles 7s Olympian Malacchi Esdale will get his first look at international test rugby. Lock or eightman Nafi Ma’afu is again named in the squad and the 27-year-old could make his long-awaited Eagles debut against Georgia.
AJ MacGinty is among the list of injured players that also includes forwards Ben Bonasso, Sam Golla, and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz. France-based hooker Kapeli Pifeleti is unavailable. There is no mention of Pifeleti’s clubmate Renger van Eerten. The 6’8″ (2.03m) lock has not featured for the Eagles since his test bow against Romania in July of 2024.
An extended list of 20 non-traveling reserves includes scrumhalf Connor Buckley and flyhalf or fullback Max Schumacher, both of whom have been tipped for test honors but are yet to earn senior selection. 20-year-old hooker Seth Smith is named among the alternates for the first time after impressing in both Major League Rugby and with national age-grade sides.
There are also some alterations to the coaching staff. Steve Brett replaces Alama Ieremia as attack coach, while Agustín Cavalieri takes over responsibility for the forwards. Nick Easter remains on staff and will focus primarily on defense.
The Eagles open their tour against Scotland at Murrayfield on November 1st. A week later they play Georgia in Batumi before moving on to Bucharest to play Romaina on November 15th.
NOTE: clubs listed are most recent affiliations and include some now-defunct MLR teams
LOOSEHEAD PROP
*Jack Iscaro (Stade Français, FR)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Counties Manukau, NZ)
Payton Telea-Ilalio (San Diego Legion)
HOOKER
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks)
Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion)
Mike Sosene-Feagai (RFC Los Angeles)
TIGHTHEAD PROP
*David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR)
Pono Davis (Houston SaberCats)
*Tonga Kofe (Leicester Tigers, UK)
Maliu Niuafe (Auckland Marist, NZ)
SECOND ROW
Jason Damm (RFC Los Angeles)
Brandon Harvey (San Diego Legion) uncapped
Tevita Naqali (Old Glory DC)
Marno Redelinghuys (Houston SaberCats)
Rick Rose (Miami Sharks) uncapped
BACK ROW
Makeen Alikhan (Anthem Carolina)
Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC)
Vili Helu (San Diego Legion)
*Nafi Ma’afu (Montauban, FR)
Christian Poidevin (San Diego Legion)
Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion)
SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Chicago Hounds)
Ruben de Haas (NOLA Gold)
Ethan McVeigh (Old Glory DC)
FLYHALF
Luke Carty (NOLA Gold)
Christopher Hilsenbeck (Chicago Hounds)
MIDFIELD
Dom Besag (Saint Mary’s Gaels)
Tommaso Boni (Old Glory DC)
Tavite Lopeti (San Diego Legion)
Erich Storti (Anthem Carolina)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Malacchi Esdale (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Toby Fricker (Bristol Bears, UK)
Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves)
*Rufus McLean (Houston SaberCats)
Mitch Wilson (Anthem Carolina)
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
Jake Turnbull (LH, Eastern Suburbs, AU)
Sean McNulty (HO, Miami Sharks)
Seth Smith (HO, Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Angus MacLellan (TH, Utah Warriors)
Tomás Casares (LO/FL, Miami Sharks)
Emmanuel Albert (FL, Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Moni Tonga’uiha (FL, NOLA Gold)
Lance Williams (FL/N8, Utah Warriors) uncapped
Luke White (N8, Chicago Hounds)
Connor Buckley (SH, Old Glory DC) uncapped
Steffan Crimp (FH/FB, Cardiff RFC, UK) uncapped
Rand Santos (FH/FB, Cal Golden Bears)
Max Schumacher (FH/FB, Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Junior Gafa (CE, Anthem Carolina) uncapped
Noah Brown (CE/WI, Chicago Hounds)
Mark O’Keeffe (CE/WI, Chicago Hounds)
Ryan James (WI, San Diego Legion)
Peyton Wall (WI, Chicago Hounds) uncapped
Julian Roberts (WI/FB, NOLA Gold) uncapped
Corbin Smith (WI/FB, Hartpury, UK) uncapped
