Ahead of their remaining Nations Cup matches overseas in Europe the USA Men have assembled in Nashville TN to kick off the first of their 2 match training series against Australia XV this Saturday, Oc
As part of a USA Doubleheader with the Women’s Eagles who square off against Italy earlier in the afternoon at 3:15 PM CT, the men will close the show when they kick off at 6:00 PM CT (7:00 PM ET). Tickets are available here. Both matches will be streamed live on Paramount+.
Fresh off an intensive training block in Japan following the Pacific Nations Cup, Head Coach Scott Lawrence and staff will use this home-match series as a final testing grounds for the team that will travel overseas in just 2 weeks.
The fixture provides opposed high stakes game-time exposure to build squad depth, integrate emerging talent, and test strategic combinations. Pulling the USA Jersey on for the first time, Oscar Lennon takes the reins at scrumhalf.
With the 2031 USA Rugby World Cup building momentum, this USA Doubleheader Tour also helps USA Rugby expose more Americans to the live game and grow USA fandom as new audiences get to experience the Eagles energy in person for the first time.
Speaking on the benefits of more game time exposure, Lawrence commented;
“Test rugby demands resilience. Injuries can create opportunities, and we have players ready to step forward to fill key positions for the first time. We’ll back them to embrace the challenge over the next two games and into the Nations Cup in November.”
The USA Rugby Double header series kicks off in Nashville, TN this Saturday, October 24th. Both teams will then travel to New Jersey with just a six day turnaround where they will take on the Aussies again at Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 30th before the final Nations Cup squad will punch their ticket overseas and depart the following day.
The Eagles will then resume their undefeated 2026 Nations Cup campaign, which kicks off November 6th in France against Hong Kong, followed by tests against Romania and Georgia.
Tickets are on sale now at https://eagles.rugby/tickets
USA Men's Eagles Matchday 23
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio (Legion 2027)
2 Shilo Klein (Legion 2027)
3 Tonga Kofe (Legion 2027)
4 Nathan Den Hoedt
5 Jason Damm (C) (Legion 2027)
6 Benjamin Bonasso
7 Paddy Ryan
8 Makeen Alikhan
9 Oscar Lennon
10 Chris Hilsenbeck
11 Mark O’Keeffe
12 Dominic Besag
13 Tavite Lopeti
14 Noah Brown
15 Michael Baska
Reserves: 16 Kaleb Geiger 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth 18 Mason Pedersen 19 Sam Golla (Legion 2027) 20 Marno Redelinghuys 21 Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz 22 Ruben De Haas 23 Luke Carty
USA Tour Schedule
USA XV vs. AUS A | Saturday, Oct 24th
Nashville, TN - Geodis Park | 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CT)
Double Header with USA Women v Italy | :15 PM ET (3:15 PM CT)
USA XV vs. AUS XV | Friday, Oct 30th
Harrison, NJ - Sports Illustrated Stadium | 8:00 PM ET
Double Header with USA Women v England | 5:15 PM ET
