Six World Cup veterans were named Monday to the United States squad for next month’s Rugby World Cup, including captain Dave Hodges.
Hodges, who has recently recovered from injury, will be joined on the 30-man squad by halfback Kevin Dalzell, hooker Kirk Khasigian, lock Alec Parker, number eight Dan Lyle and lock Luke Gross.
Gross is the all-time leader in caps for the US.
The Eagles will be making their second World Cup appearance next month in Australia.
Ten players on the squad made their international debuts this year, including fowards Richard Liddington, Matt Wyatt, Gerhard Klerck and 20-year-old Todd Clever, who saw their first action in last month’s Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
”A full test calendar this year has provided us with opportunities to evaluate and work with many players,” US coach Tom Billups said. ”This squad reflects a very thorough selection process.”
The squad includes only one uncapped player, center Salesi Sika, who impressed Billups with his two-try performance against Russia in July.
But the Americans will be without flanker Conrad Hodgson, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
”We are saddened by Conrad’s injury. His form this year has been remarkable,” Billups said. ”This team has been built around the principle that all players are responsible for the team’s performance. Conrad’s absence will have us call upon this philosophy once again.”
Most of the Eagles are part-time players, but five play professional in Europe — Gross, Hodges, Jason Keyter, Liddington and Lyle. Three squad members — Clever, Mike MacDonald and Sika — are college students.
The Eagles will leave for Australia on September 29 and play Fiji and Scotland in Brisbane, Japan in Gosford and France in Wollongong. — Sapa-AP
Roster:
Forwards: Todd Clever, Dan Dorsey, Oloseti Fifita, Jurie Gouws, Luke Gross, David Hodges, Kirk Khasigian, Gerhard Klerck, Richard Liddington, Dan Lyle, Mike MacDonald, Alec Parker, Kort Schubert, John Tarpoff, Jacob Waasdorp, Matt Wyatt.
Backs: John Buchholz, Kain Cross, Kevin Dalzell, Phillip Eloff, Paul Emerick, David Fee, Mike Hercus, Jason Keyter, Kimball Kjar, Matt Sherman, Salesi Sika, Mose Timoteo, Riaan van Zyl, Link Wilfley.