CHULA VISTA, CA. – The USA Men’s Falcons — a developmental side of the senior Men’s National Team 7s — have been named for the McDonald’s Coral Coast 7s taking place January 16-17 (based on Eastern time) in Sigatoka, Fiji.

The tournament itself will be held at Lawaqa Park and features 44 invitational teams across men’s, women’s and youth events. A total of 16 teams make up the men’s sector.

Led by senior USA Men’s Sevens assistant coach Phil Greening, the Falcons will face Natadra, Tabadamu and the Stallions in Pool C starting at 4:36 PM ET on Thursday, January 16. Matches are streamed LIVE on the tournament’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FijisCoralCoast7s.

Captained by Cody Melphy, the 12-player roster features three new faces in Gavan D’Amore Morrison, Aaron Gray and Malacchi Esdale who were all identified in 2019.

Morrison hit the radar at Club 7s National Championships where he played for Old Blue. He was previously signed with Rugby United New York in the earlier part of 2019. Gray was scouted at the Collegiate Rugby Championships with Kutztown University and Esdale, who was initially discovered at the Las Vegas Invitational, continued to impress national team coaches as he played for the Houston SaberCats.

The squad is also highlighted by Tohi Angilau who led an impressive string of performances as Captain of the U18s at World School Sevens. Malon Al-Jiboori and Mike Te’o are also featured, returning to the sevens program after recently competing in Rugby World Cup Japan in XVs.

Al-Jiboori last played for the senior national team in sevens at Paris 2018 with Te’o’s last appearance at London 2017. In Japan, both were incredibly impressive in the USA’s final match against Tonga where Te’o scored two tries off the bench and Al-Jiboori was clinical on defense.

As is the case with nearly all Falcons level competitions, the mix of new and veteran experience will bode well for development of all in the playing group.

USA Men’s Sevens Head Coach Mike Friday said: “We are excited for the opportunity this group has in attending the Coral Coast 7s in Fiji, the spiritual home of the game where it’s part of the country’s DNA and is their passion.”

“I have no doubt it will be a very intense test for the group and the competition expected will be at a very high standard. This is exactly what we need as a program where we will have to adapt throughout and be willing to go and go for each other in every game.”

For more information about McDonald’s Coral Coast 7s, please visit fijicoralcoastsevens.com. Score updates will be posted across USA Rugby’s Twitter, Instagram Story and Facebook Story.

USA MEN’S FALCONS ROSTER

PLAYER NAME POSITION CLUB 1. Anthony Welmers Prop USA Sevens 2. Lauina Falatea Prop USA Sevens 3. Gavan D’Amore Morrison Prop Old Blue 4. Tohi Angilau Center USA Sevens 5. Joe Schroeder Prop USA Sevens 6. Malon Al-Jiboori Prop USA Sevens 7. Cody Melphy (C) Halfback USA Sevens 8. Maceo Brown Center USA Sevens 9. Mikey Te’o Halfback USA Sevens 10. Faitala Talapusi Halfback USA Sevens 11. Aaron Gray Center/Wing Kutztown University 12. Malacchi Esdale Center/Wing Houston SaberCats

USA MEN’S FALCONS STAFF

Head Coach | Phil Greening

Assistant Coach / Team Manager | Brendan Keane

Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner

Athletic Trainer | Danielle Iosefo

CORAL COAST SEVENS SCHEDULE

Pool C

vs Natadra | Thurs, Jan 16 – 4:36 PM ET

vs Tabadamu | Thurs, Jan 16 – 8:41 PM ET

vs Stallions | Fri, Jan 17 – 11:56 AM ET

Knockout Stages

Bowl Quarterfinals begin Friday, Jan 17 at 4 PM ET

Cup Quarterfinals begin Friday, Jan 17 at 5:20 PM ET

Follow @USARugby on Twitter, Instagram Story and Facebook Story for score updates, matchups and timings. LIVE Stream available at facebook.com/fijiscoralcoast7s.

COMPETITION FORMAT

The top two teams in each pool progress to the Cup Quarterfinals where the bottom two teams will enter the Bowl Quarterfinals.

Teams who win their quarterfinals will advance to the Cup or Bowl semifinals and finals.

Those who lose their Cup Quarterfinal will play in the plate semifinal while those who lose their Bowl Quarterfinals will play in the 13th place semifinals and final.