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 staring 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 STARTING ROSTER



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 8. Bailey Wilson (C) No 8 Utah Valley University 9. Ethan McVeigh Scrumhalf Cardiff Metropolitan University 10. Mike Weir Flyhalf Dartmouth College 11. Junior 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

USA MEN’S U20s STAFF

Head Coach | Scott Bracken

Assistant Coach, Attack | Brendan O’Meara

Assistant Coach, Defense | Michael Engelbrecht

Assistant Coach, Set Piece | Liam Harnett

Strength & Conditioning Coach | Michael Smith

Athletic Trainer | Santiago Aquirre

Performance Analyst | Jake Sullivan

Operations Manager | Kevin McCorry

WORLD RUGBY TROPHY QUALIFIER SERIES

Streamed LIVE on Rugby Canada’s Facebook Page

Tues, June 4

vs Canada U20s

8 PM ET

Sat, June 8

vs Canada U20s

8 PM ET

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ABOUT THE USA MEN’S U20s

Under-20s or U20s (formerly known as Junior All-Americans) are athletes ages 19-20 years old who participate in a club or collegiate level rugby program. Unlike the High School and Collegiate All-American programs, there is no requirement for U20s to be attached to a scholastic program; athletes can compete with a senior club, professional team or university program. The U20s participate in formal international competitions such as the U20 Women’s Tri-Nations Cup and U20 Men’s World Rugby Trophy. The U20 program is primarily 15s, but expected to expand in to 7s as World Rugby offers additional opportunity for competition.

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