USA U20 Men Selected To Face Canada

David Barpal photo.

06.04.2019 - GRR Staff

SHAWNIGAN LAKE, B.C. - Head Coach Scott Bracken has named his match-day roster for the USA Men’s U20s’ first match of the World Rugby Trophy Qualifier Series against rival-Canada tonight.

Kickoff is set for 8:10 PM ET on facebook.com/RugbyCanada.

A total of 26 players will dress as part of the match-day roster, 15 starters and 11 reserves, though only up to eight reserves will see playing time.

2018 Team USA Youth Olympians Inoke “Junior” Waqavesi and Lauina Falatea both earned starting positions at wing and center, respectively.

The reserves feature three players not listed in the original full squad including Doug Mitchell, Jasper Green and Royce Fisher. Mitchell received the call-up for Matt Meehan who was unable to attend due to Army responsibilities, Green -- also a 2018 Team USA Youth Olympian -- jumped in for Eric Naposki. Fisher was a late addition.

Head Coach Scott Bracken said: “We have selected a starting group and finishers that we think will give us a good opportunity to compete against an a very good and experienced Canada team. Selections were difficult due to the overall quality of players in camp. This is a credit to the player development work being done at clubs and colleges around the country.”

The finale of the Qualifier series will be played on June 8 at 8:10 PM ET, also LIVE on facebook.com/RugbyCanada. The team who has the highest aggregate score by the end of the two-match series will earn qualification to the World Rugby Trophy tournament in Brazil next month.

USA MEN’S U20s STARTERS

PLAYER NAME	POSITION	CLUB/COLLEGE
1. Jack Wiles	Prop	St. Bonaventure University
2. Jack Manzo	Hooker	University of California, Berkeley
3. Jared Miller	Prop	Life University
4. Sam Golla	Lock	University of California, Berkeley
5. Asa Carter	Lock	Arkansas State
6. Chase Jones	Flanker	St. Mary's College of California
7. Miles McCormick	Flanker	OMBAC/St. Augustine
8. Bailey Wilson (C)	No 8	Utah Valley University
9. Ethan McVeigh	Scrumhalf	Cardiff Metropolitan University
10. Mike Weir	Flyhalf	Dartmouth College
11. Inoke Waqavesi	Wing	USA Sevens Residency Program
12. Lauina Falatea	Center	USA Sevens Residency Program
13. Jack Wendling	Center	Central Washington University
14. Ryan James	Wing	San Diego Legion
15. Sam Walsh	Fullback	University of California, Berkeley

USA MEN’S U20s RESERVES

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB/SCHOOL
16. Braden Looper	Reserve	University of Arizona
17. Doug Mitchell	Reserve	Central Washington University
18. Alex Lopeti	Reserve	Life West Gladiators
19. Matt Gelhaus	Reserve	Kutztown
20. Chris Noggle	Reserve	Santa Barbara Academy
21. Jeff Peleseuma-Breiz	Reserve	San Francisco Golden Gate
22. Cole Semu	Reserve	BYU
23. Jasper Green	Reserve	Dartmouth College
24. Will Vakalahi	Reserve	DC Old Glory
25. Luke Freeman	Reserve	University of California, Berkeley
26. Royce Fisher	Reserve	Santa Barbara Academy