PNC history
Number of tournaments: 5
Best finish: 2nd (2014)
Most points in a match: 47 (47-19 v Canada in 2019)
Biggest win: 28 (as above)
Did you know...? The November 2024 clean sweep of wins over Portugal, Tonga and Spain was the first time USA had won three men’s tests in a row since 2019.
Kit colour: White/Blue/Red
Nickname: Men’s Eagles
Current form
World Ranking: 16
Form: WWWLL
PNC pool matches
22 August: Canada v USA – McMahon Stadium, Calgary
6 September: USA v Japan – Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
Head Coach: Scott Lawrence
A former number eight, Lawrence became acting head coach in May 2023, when Gary Gold stepped down after the Eagles missed out on going to that year’s Rugby World Cup, and was handed the job full-time the following January.
He’s the architect in place for Moonshot 2031 – an ambitious plan to get USA to the quarter-finals of their home Rugby World Cup and one that, from its name to the stages involved, is inspired by the race to the Moon. This tournament, therefore, will be the latest small step for USA’s rugby men on that mission.
In brief
In common with opening-round opponents Canada, the focus of American rugby attention will be with the women’s side as they compete in a difficult Pool A at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
But that leaves the men’s squad able to work away from the brightest limelight as they bid to return to the international game’s biggest competition in Australia in 2027, after missing out on qualification for France 2023.
A strong November series and a determined performance in defeat against England in July should set them in good stead as they look to improve on the fourth place at last year’s Pacific Nations Cup.
Key player: AJ MacGinty
Coach Lawrence has – quite correctly – described the 40-cap, two-RWC, 35-year-old Bristol fly-half as a ‘generational’ talent. Both coach and player know that a trip to Australia in two years is probably beyond even the Eagles’ apparently ageless 10, and are desperately seeking a replacement, with Chicago Hounds’ Christopher Hilsenback and Chartres’ Tom Pittman the latest in line to join Luke Carty on the roster.
Legend: Kort Schubert
Pioneer back-row Schubert was the first American player to go from college directly into professional rugby, playing for Northampton Saints in 2003/04 and Cardiff from 2004 to 2006. He won 49 caps for the Eagles, between 2000 and 2008, went to Rugby World Cup 2003, and captained his country 18 times.
Extended squad
In line with other coaches, Lawrence mixed experience and youth in his extended squad for PNC 2025. Four players – Italian centre Tommaso Boni, Samoan prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth, German fly-half Christopher Hilsenbeck, and Scottish winger Rufus McLean – all bring previous international experience to the Eagles’ roster.
Meanwhile, France-based second-row Nafi Ma’afu – who has joined promoted Top 14 side Montauban from Biarritz this season – is expected to finally make his long-awaited senior debut, having featured for the USA under-20s in 2017.
Alec McDonnell, Maliu Niuafe, Rick Rose, and Lance Williams could win their first international caps, in a USA squad notably missing July test call-ups Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Sam Golla, and Renger van Eerten, who has signed for ambitious French ProD2 side Provence.
Forwards
Makeen Alikhan, Benjamin Bonasso (captain), Jason Damm, Cory Daniel, Pono Davis, Kaleb Geiger, Viliami Helu, Jack Iscaro, Shilo Klein, Tonga Kofe, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Nafi Ma’afu, Alec McDonnell, Tevita Naqali, Maliu Niuafe, Kapeli Pifeleti, Christian Poidevin, Payton Telea-Ilalio, Marno Redelinghuys, Rick Rose, Paddy Ryan, Jake Turnbull, Lance Williams
Backs
Nate Augspurger, Dominic Besag, Tommaso Boni, Noah Brown, Ruben de Haas, Toby Fricker, Lauina Futi, Chris Hilsenback, Tavite Lopeti, AJ MacGinty, Rufus McLean, Ethan McVeigh, Tom Pittman, JP Smith, Erich Storti, Mitch Wilson
They say
“We’re grateful to the tournament organisers providing this year’s competition in North America. We are looking forward to seeing the growth within the team over the course of the tournament and performing well on home soil in September.” – Head coach Scott Lawrence
