USA U20s Pepare To Face Canada
USA U20s Pepare To Face Canada
CHULA VISTA, CA. - The USA Men’s Under-20s will assemble this weekend in southern California for a preparation camp ahead of the U20 Trophy Qualifier series this June. Camp will and take place from May 11-16 featuring 32 under-20 athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista.
Coaches will use the preparation camp as an opportunity to test and evaluate players ahead of final selections for the main qualifier series against rival-Canada June 4 and June 8 in Victoria, B.C. Following the training camp, players and staff will have a two week break before assembling in Canada on June 1.
The camp roster includes 2018 Team USA Youth Olympians Alex Cleary, Ulu Niutupuivaha and Lauina Falatea. Senior Men’s Eagles Sevens player Ben Broselle is also in the mix, after recently making his debut in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and helping the United States win a historic second-consecutive Gold Medal at their home tournament in Las Vegas this March.
Seven players have already been selected to the final traveling squad for the Qualifier Series but will not attend preparation camp due to college finals. Those athletes include: Jack Manzo, Matt Meehan, Sam Golla, Jason Severance, Luke Freeman, Ethan McVeigh, Sam Walsh and Eric Naposki.
“May's camp will help us make final selections and prepare for a highly competitive qualification series in June,” said Head Coach Scott Bracken. “The staff and I are excited to work with this group of exceptional athletes who have unique opportunity to represent their country in one of the biggest international competitions of their age-group.”
“Bailey Wilson will once again Captain the side after doing great work last December. Most of our athletes hail from the USA Collegiate ranks; however, players from Men's D1, Major League Rugby and overseas are represented as well.”
Information on how to follow the U20 Trophy Qualifier Series in June will be announced closer to date. The World Rugby U20 Trophy Tournament takes place from July 9-21 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
USA MEN’S U20s ROSTER
|
Name |
Position |
College/Club |
|
Alex Lopeti |
Prop |
Life West |
|
Alex Nanai |
Prop |
University of Connecticut |
|
Doug Mitchell |
Prop |
Central Washington University |
|
Gabe Kettering |
Prop |
Lindenwood University |
|
Jack Wiles |
Prop |
St. Bonaventure University |
|
Jared Miller |
Prop |
Life University |
|
Braden Looper |
Hooker |
University of Arizona |
|
Spencer Loughman |
Hooker |
Rugby Academy Ireland |
|
Asa Carter |
Lock |
Arkansas State |
|
Matt Gelhaus |
Lock |
Kutztown |
|
Ulu Niutupuivaha |
Lock |
USA Men’s Sevens Residency Program |
|
Bill Whiteside |
Lock |
Lindenwood University |
|
Alex Cleary |
Back row |
Central Washington University |
|
Anthony Ryan |
Back row |
University College Cork |
|
Bailey Wilson |
Back row |
Utah Valley University |
|
Chase Jones |
Back row |
St. Mary's College of California |
|
Chris Noggle |
Back row |
Santa Barbara Academy |
|
Will Vakalahi |
Back row |
DC Old Glory |
|
Jake Christmann |
Halfback |
Utah Warriors |
|
Jeff Peleseuma-Breiz |
Halfback |
San Francisco Golden Gate |
|
Brock Stinson |
Flyhalf |
Kutztown |
|
Mike Weir |
Flyhalf |
Dartmouth College |
|
Brandon Calk |
Center |
St. Mary's College of California |
|
Cole Semu |
Center |
BYU |
|
Ian Kilcullen |
Center |
Penn State |
|
Isaiah Taliulu |
Center |
BYU |
|
Jack Wendling |
Center |
Central Washington |
|
Royce Fisher |
Center |
Santa Barbara Academy |
|
Lauina Falatea |
Center/Wing |
USA Men’s Sevens Residency Program |
|
Ben Broselle |
Wing |
USA Men’s Sevens Residency Program |
|
Julian Roberts |
Wing/Fullback |
Life University |
|
Ryan James |
Fullback |
OMBAC |
USA MEN’S U20 STAFF
Head Coach | Scott Bracken
Assistant Coach, Attack | Brendan O’Meara
Assistant Coach, Defense | Michael Engelbrecht
Assistant Coach, Set Piece | Liam Harnett
Athletic Trainer | Chris Belmonte
Performance Analyst | Jake Sullivan
Operations Manager | Kevin McCorry
