USA Men's Age-Grade Teams Announce Tour Plans
USA Men's Age-Grade Teams Announce Tour Plans
The USA age=grade teams are going to be active this year despite World Rugby's drawback from U20 action.
World Rugby is reportedly coming back with a new-look U20 world competition for 2026. As it is, this year, there's nothing, so USA rugby is focusing in part on a U19 team that can be developed for U20 competition a year later.
This year, the U18, U19, and U23 squads will each embark on international tours.
USA Men’s U18s – Argentina Tour
The USA Men’s U18s will travel to Argentina for a three-match tour, kicking off on June 30 and concluding on July 13. The team will face elite academy competition from two of Argentina’s top regional schools; Buenos Aires Academy (two matches) and Rosario Academy.
This tour offers a crucial test for the rising talent pool and a unique chance to compete against one of the world’s strongest rugby nations at the age-grade level.
USA Men’s U19s – RAN Championship in Mexico City
In the absence of the U20 Trophy, the decision has been made to take a U19 team to Mexico City. This will allow for the continued development of players who will be next year’s U20s. Following a week-long domestic training camp in early July, the USA Men’s U19s will head to Mexico City for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) U19 Championship, held from July 9-12. The tournament serves as the premier competition for U19 rugby across the North American and Caribbean region and a key pathway event in the player development pipeline.
USA Men's U23 – Southern Africa Tour
In partnership with Anthem Rugby Carolina, coaching staff from USA Rugby will lead a U23 team on a high-level tour of Southern Africa, departing June 22 and returning July 13. The team will face formidable opponents in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, including:
Zimbabwe Men’s National Team in Harare, ZBW - Boland Rugby in Western Cape, RSA and Maties Rugby against Stellenbosch University’s renowned rugby program.
This tour represents a valuable stepping stone for players who played in the USA U20 programs the last two years as well as newly identified talent on the cusp of senior national team consideration.
“These tours are a vital part of the USA Rugby player development pathway,” said Men’s Head of Player Systems and Development, Brendan Keane, “and provide our young athletes with the chance to experience challenging rugby environments and represent their country on the international stage. It also provides opportunities to incubate this burgeoning talent in alignment with the on and off-field systems and structures being deployed within the Men’s XV’s programs from top to bottom”.
Full rosters, match details, and potential streaming information will be announced in the first week of June.
Selections for Men’s High Performance Pathway Teams are the result of ongoing selection processes including the recommendations from coaches, independent player nominations, film analysis, Talent ID Days, scouting of regional and national events, league competitions and assessments made of players at the Junior National Team Winter Camp and CRAA All-American East v. West.
Interested in supporting the Men’s Junior National Teams? Your support helps cover travel, training, medical, and logistics for these young athletes chasing their dreams on the world stage. Every donation brings us closer to building a stronger future for American rugby. Donate today and help the USA Men's Junior National Teams rise.
