USA Eagles announce Rugby World Cup 2011 50-man training squad
The 50-man squad for the USA Eagles has been announced by head coach Eddie O'Sullivan on Wednesday, June 22, for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 scheduled to take place from September to October, in New Zealand. However, the finalised 30- man
squad will be listed by August 22.
Sullivan is preparing the squad for an exceptional performance in RWC 2011. It has been clarified that the initial pick may undergo modifications. He stated, "With the World Cup less than three months away we have put together an extended pool of players
from which the final Eagles Squad of 30 players will emerge." Also, he mentioned that the players who were part of the rugby training squad for the Churchill Cup have an “advantage” over the rest as they have already camped together for the last three weeks.
However, he stated that there will be ample prospects for those who missed out on the Churchill Cup to win a spot in the final squad for RWC 2011.
Prior to facing their opponents in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup this year, the Eagles are going to participate in three test matches facing Canada and Japan in August. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 17 in the world after their appearance in the
Churchill Cup 2011.
Three players who were not part of the recent Churchill Cup 2011 are now included in the RWC initial 50- man squad. This includes Chris Wyles, Hayden Smith and Taku Ngwenya. Also, the major highlight of recent recruits is the 24- year-old James Paterson,
the Highlanders winger who also captained U19s.
The Eagles’ 50- man preliminary squad for Rugby World Cup 2011, includes the following players in the forwards pack; Inaki Basauri, Chris Biller, Ryan Chapman, Pat Danahy, Cameron Dolan, Todd Clever, Eric Fry, Mаrk Bokhoven ,JJ Gagiano, Matt Hawkins, Nic
Johnson, Wіll Johnson, Danny LaPrevotte,Tom Katzfey ,Scott LaValla,Mike MacDonald, Brian McClenahan,Samu Manoa , Mate Moeakiola, Alec Parker,Hayden Smith,Anthony Purpura,Shawn Pittman, Louis Stanfill ,John van der Giessen and Phil Thiel.
Players in back pack of the squad include; Paul Emerick, Tai Enosa,Troy Hall, Colin Hawley, Nese Malifa, Taku Ngwenya, Folau Niua, Mike Palefau, James Paterson, Mike Petri,Volney Rouse, Andrew Suniula, Blaine Scully, Robbie Shaw, Thretton Palamo, Junior
Sifa , Roland Suniula, Shalom Suniula, Kevin Swiryn, Zack Test, Pate Tuilevuka, Seta Tuilevuka, Tim Usasz and Chris Wyles .
The coaching squad of the Eagles for RWC 2011 includes: Eddie O'Sullivan, the Head Coach; David Hodges, the Forwards Coach; Matt Sherman, the Backs Coach; Mike, the Defensive Coach; Fiore, the Scrum Coach; Chris O'Brien, the Kicking Coach; Dan Payne, the
Skills Coach and David Williams, the Conditioning Coach.
Tristan Lewist and Dallen Stanford will shoulder the responsibilities as the Team Manager and the RWC media Manager respectively for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
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