MLR Rugby FC Los Angeles

Alex Maughan and Jason Damm Selected in USA Extended Squad

May 3, 2024 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Rugby FC Los Angeles News Release


Head Coach Scott Lawrence and staff have named 55 players to the Extended Player Squad (EPS) for 2024, identifying a dynamic pool of qualified and available players for the two confirmed tours scheduled this year.

15 new prospects target their USA Eagles debut. The Men's Eagles international season will kick off in July with a two-match tour as part of the American Series before breaking for the Major League Rugby playoffs, reassembling in August for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Two collegiate standouts make the cut, with Dominic Besag and Erich Storti of Saint Mary's College looking to join the traveling roster this summer. Besag debuted in 2023 and both players will step onto the pitch in Houston this weekend for the D1A National Championship.

Alex Maughan breaks the line in the win over Utah. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit

Lucas Gramlick, Jake Turnbull and Conor McManus also make the list, representing Major League Rugby's newest outfit, Anthem Rugby Carolina. Anthem is halfway through its inaugural year, a development program in partnership between MLR, USA Rugby and World Rugby. More young talent on the radar is Stefan Crimp, the Cardiff MET fullback who last pulled on a USA shirt with the Men's U20s for the 2023 World Rugby Trophy qualifier.

Head Coach Scott Lawrence said on the player selections, "The EPS is a point in time selection of men that we see as being capable of competing for a place in the test team now, and a number of players that we will introduce to the path of becoming an Eagle.

Jason Damm on the burst in 2024. Photo: RFCLA Media Unit

The staff looks at many factors in selecting the EPS. Meaningful minutes, physical capability, the work ethic, professional habits and the energy they impose on a game all play a role in the selection process."

Lawrence will select a traveling squad for the first assembly of 2024 in Chicago, ahead of their fixture against Romania at SeatGeek Stadium on July 5, followed by a premier clash with Scotland in Washington DC on July 12. Tickets to each match are available now.

Prior to the American Series tour, team staff and players from the leadership group will gather for an alignment camp in June, an annual meeting for the program to connect and reinforce the program's goals for the upcoming international season.

Lawrence noted on the team's connectivity, "The team has remained connected through monthly zooms, coach one-on-ones, and game day visits domestically. Ultimately, starting minutes with their respective clubs gets them closest to a place where we can help them close the gap to test rugby through the Pacific Nations Cup and a November tour. Our goal has been to enable players to perform their best by being trusted resources until we can come together and plug in to the energy that can only come from an international environment."

2024 USA Men's Eagles Extended Player Squad

PROP

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

David Ainu'u Toulouse (FRA) 22

Jake Turnbull Anthem RC 5

Jack Iscaro Old Glory DC 6

Alex Maughan RFCLA 3

Paul Mullen Utah Warriors 34

Kaleb Geiger New England Free Jacks 3

Pono Davis Houston SaberCats Yet to debut

Nathan Sylvia San Diego Legion 3

HOOKER

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Dylan Fawsitt Chicago Hounds 27

Mikey Sosene-Feagai Agen (FRA) 9

Kapeli Pifeleti Saracens (ENG) 10

Sean McNulty Miami Sharks Yet to debut

Joe Taufete'e Seattle Seawolves 37

LOCK

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Greg Peterson San Diego Legion 42

Sam Golla Dallas Jackals 5

Lucas Gramlick Anthem RC Yet to debut

Nafi Ma'afu Perpignan (FRA) Yet to debut

Renger Van Eerten CA Brive Rugby (FRA) Yet to debut

Cam Dolan NOLA Gold 67

Siaosi Mahoni (IR) Houston SaberCats 11

FLANKER

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz Old Glory DC 9

Tesimoni Tonga'uiha NOLA Gold 6

Viliami Helu San Diego Legion 5

Bailey Wilson Utah Warriors 1

Cory Daniel Old Glory DC 3

Paddy Ryan San Diego Legion 5

Makeen Alikhan Dallas Jackals Yet to debut

Collin Grosse Old Glory DC Yet to debut

N0. 8

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Luke White Chicago Hounds 5

Thomas Tu'avao Utah Warriors 5

Jason Damm RFCLA 1

Ben Bonasso Miami Sharks 5

SCRUMHALF

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

JP Smith Seattle Seawolves Yet to debut

Ruben de Haas Cheetahs (RSA) 31

Conor McManus Anthem RC Yet to debut

Ethan McVeigh Old Glory DC Yet to debut

FLYHALF

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

AJ MacGinty Bristol Bears (ENG) 35

Luke Carty Chicago Hounds 16

Chris Hilsenbeck Biarritz (FRA) Yet to debut

CENTER

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Tavite Lopeti Seattle Seawolves 12

Bryce Campbell Chicago Hounds 45

Paul Lasike Utah Warriors 22

Mika Kruse Utah Warriors 7

Tommaso Boni Old Glory DC 4

Dominic Besag Saint Mary's College 1

WING

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Nate Augspurger Chicago Hounds 41

Christian Dyer Houston SaberCats 14

Conner Mooneyham Seattle Seawolves Yet to debut

Lauina Futi Seattle Seawolves 3

Joseph Mano Utah Warriors 2

FULLBACK

NAME CLUB TEST CAPS

Erich Storti Saint Mary's College Yet to debut

Mitch Wilson New England Free Jacks 6

Stefan Crimp Cardiff Met. (WAL) Yet to debut

Toby Fricker Ospreys (WAL) Yet to debut

Chris Mattina (IR) San Diego Legion 5

*IR - Injured Reserve

2024 USA Men's Eagles Schedule

USA vs Romania | July 5, 2024

Chicago, IL | SeatGeek Stadium

GET TICKETS

Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Scotland | July 12, 2024

Washington, DC | Audi Field

GET TICKETS

Watch LIVE on FloRugby

USA vs Canada | August 31, 2024 | Pacific Nations Cup

Los Angeles, CA | Dignity Health Sports Park

GET TICKETS

Watch LIVE on Peacock

USA vs Japan | September 7, 2024

Kumagaya, JPN | Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

Watch LIVE on Peacock

Pacific Nations Cup Semi-Finals begin Saturday, September 14



Major League Rugby Stories from May 3, 2024


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