USA Eagles Eddie O'Sullivan announces 29-man squad for Churchill Cup – Rugby News
The USA Rugby Union team, also known as USA Eagles, has announced their 29-man squad to participate in the Churchill Cup. USA Eagles head coach, former Irish International Eddie O’Sullivan, listed out the player on the team
on Wednesday May 25.
The team will participate in the ninth edition of the Churchill Cup starting from June 4 in England. Besides the USA and host England other teams to participate in the Cup include Tonga, Russia, Italy A and Canada.
The squad announced by O'Sullivan includes five players who are currently in England and have competed during the Aviva Premiership 2010/11 season. This includes three forwards and two backs. The forwards are Will Johnson from
London Irish, Mike MacDonald from Leeds Carnegie and Shawn Pittman from London Welsh. While, Nottingham’s backs Junior Sifa and Tim Usasz are the other two players being called up.
England Saxons are the current Churchill Cup champions as they defeated Canada in last year’s Churchill Cup’s final 38 – 18.
Six teams are divided into a pool of two, as each team will play against the other team in the Pool phase. The tournament format is such that all six teams play on the finals day with the topper of each group playing for the Cup Final. Runners up of the
groups play for Plate Final and bottom-placed compete for the Bow Finals.
USA Eagles will kick start their Churchill Cup campaign against the defending champions England Saxons on June 4 at Franklin’s Gardens Northampton. Northampton, Esher and Gloucester grounds will host the pool matches with Worcester’s Sixways stadium hosting
the finals on June 18.
O'Sullivan termed this a wonderful opportunity for the players to justify their place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad. He said, “The fact that there are some players resting gives an opportunity to others to make a case for inclusion in the final selection
for Rugby World Cup."
The USA Eagles squad includes
Forwards: Inaki Basauri (L' Aquila), Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), Todd Clever (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan), Pat Danahy (Life University), Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks), JJ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town), Nic Johnson (Unattached),
Will Johnson (London Irish), Danny LaPrevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate), Scott LaValla (Unattached), Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), Louis Stanfill (Mogliano), Phil Thiel (Life University), John van der Giessen (Utah Warriors)
Backs: Paul Emerick (Life University), Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), Troy Hall (New York Athletic Club), Colin Hawley (Olympic Club), Nese Malifa (Glendale), Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), Mile Pulu (San
Francisco Golden Gate), Junior Sifa (Nottingham RFC), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby), Kevin Swiryn (Agen), Zack Test (Unattached), Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC)
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