The USA have added England age-grade hooker Kapeli Pifeleti to their Select XV roster for the Americas Pacific Challenge. It’s a surprise move given the Saracens Academy player has only recently celebrated his 19th birthday and was part of the England under-18 team that played France earlier this year.

Pifeleti’s addition suggests that one of Alex Maughan or Cam Falcon will now be considered primarily at prop. Both were named as hookers in the initial squad but both have recent experience at prop with Maughan capped as a loosehead and Falcon playing tighthead for the NOLA Gold in Major League Rugby.

It’s not the first Pifeleti to turn to USA rugby this year. Older brother Faka’osi joined the San Diego Legion in the second half of the MLR season. Their father, the late Otenili Pifeleti, was a Tongan international who captained the Ikale Tahi to victory over Fiji in 1985.

An updated squad list can be seen here.