Dan Kriel and Wayne van der Bank are among several new names that will participate in the first Men’s Eagles training camp of the year. The South African midfielders have been included by Scott Lawrence despite neither being eligible to represent the USA until 2027. Kriel is the twin brother of Springbok star Jesse Kriel, while van der Bank was Major League Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2024.
While Kriel and van der Bank are included with an eye towards 2027, ex-Junior Springbok flyhalf Davy Coetzer is not on the list despite also fulfilling his five-year residency next year. Coetzer makes the move to Seattle this year after starring guiding Houston to the MLR Championship Final in 2025.
Of the 35 names on the list, 15 are uncapped. Among them are 20-year-old hooker Seth Smith, newly-eligible second row pair Nathan Den Hoedt and Rhyno Herbst, and college draft picks Will Sherman and Oscar Treacy. James Rose is the only inclusion not signed to an MLR club for the 2026 season. The outside back from Life University was part of the USA u23 side that toured South Africa last summer.
A list of injured or unavailable players was not released, but there are no overseas professionals attending. A number of test regulars from 2025 are also absent. The alignment camp is taking place in California this week, at Chula Vista’s Elite Athlete Training Center. MLR’s 2026 season is set to begin on March 28. The Eagles will open their test campaign in July.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Ma’ake Muti (California Legion) uncapped
Payton Telea-Ilalio (Anthem RC) 7 caps
HOOKER
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks) 10 caps
Seth Smith (Anthem RC) uncapped
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Oliver Kane (Anthem RC) uncapped
Alex Maughan (Anthem RC) 8 caps
SECOND ROW
Nathan Den Hoedt (Chicago Hounds) uncapped
Brandon Harvey (Chicago Hounds) 1 cap
Rhyno Herbst (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Tevita Naqali (Old Glory DC) 9 caps
Rick Rose (Old Glory DC) uncapped
SECOND/BACK ROW
Jason Damm (California Legion) 15 caps
Sam Golla (Anthem RC) 8 caps
Marno Redelinghuys (Seattle Seawolves) 9 caps
Will Sherman (Anthem RC) uncapped
BACK ROW
Makeen Alikhan (Anthem RC) 7 caps
Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC) 17 caps
Kalisi Moli (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Paddy Ryan (Seattle Seawolves) 19 caps
SCRUMHALF
Michael Baska (Chicago Hounds) 6 caps
Ruben de Haas (Chicago Hounds) 44 caps
Karl Keane (Anthem RC) uncapped
Ethan McVeigh (New England Free Jacks) 7 caps
FLYHALF
Tom Pittman (Anthem RC) 3 caps
Max Schumacher (Old Glory DC) uncapped
MIDFIELD
*Dan Kriel (Seattle Seawolves) uncapped
Tavite Lopeti (Chicago Hounds) 26 caps
*Wayne van der Bank (Anthem RC) uncapped
OUTSIDE BACKS
Joe Mano (California Legion) 2 caps
Rufus McLean (Seattle Seawolves) 6 caps
Conner Mooneyham (Anthem RC) 7 caps
Mark O’Keeffe (Chicago Hounds) 4 caps
James Rose (Life University) uncapped
Oscar Treacy (California Legion) uncapped
Peyton Wall (Chicago Hounds) uncapped
*USA-eligible in 2027
