USA Squad
USA coach Peter Thorburn has unveiled his 30-man squad for Rugby World Cup 2007 with fly half Mike Hercus and second row Luke Gross among the seven players who played for the Eagles in the last tournament. The others are prop Mike MacDonald, centre Phillip Eloff, wings Paul Emerick and Salesi Sika and second row Alec Parker – who like Gross will be playing in his third World Cup – while Todd Clever was part of the squad, but did not take to the field.
Thorburn has also named seven players who will remain with the squad until their departure for France on 1 September and then act as a reserve pool should the Eagles suffer any injuries over the course of the tournament.
USA squad:
Forwards (17): Mike MacDonald, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Chris Osentowski, John Vitale, Blake Burdette, Owen Lentz, Luke Gross, Mike Mangan, Hayden Mexted, Alec Parker, Inaki Basauri, Mark Aylor, Tasi Mounga, Todd Clever, Dan Payne, Louis Stanfill and Henry Bloomfield.
Backs (13): Chad Erskine, Mike Petri, Mike Hercus, Valenese Malifa, Phillip Eloff, Vaha Esikia, Thretton Palamo, Albert Tuipulotu, Paul Emerick, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Salesi Sika, Chris Wyles and Francois Viljoen.
The Eagles have been drawn in Pool A at Rugby World Cup 2007 with defending champions England, 1995 winners South Africa, Samoa and Tonga. Their opening match is against England in Lens on 8 September.