|
|
The team arrives in England on Wednesday, March 26 and will train in Kirton in Lindsey before departing for Millfield on Monday, March 31.
In the USA Under-17’s second annual appearance at the tournament, which features national age grade teams from Europe and North America, the team faces some repeat competition from its 2007 outing.
The USA again meets Portugal and Romania on April 1 and April 6, respectively, with a match against England in between on April 3.
Last year, during the USA’s inaugural trip to the festival hosted at Millfield School in Somerset, the U-17 team put in a top effort and stuck close with their opponents but dropped an 11-8 heartbreaker to Portugal, and was barely edged out by Romania 27-25.
"We are looking forward to continuing the rugby development of our young American athletes. This is the second year we have taken the U-17 team to the Millfield Tournament, and it is an excellent introduction to high-level rugby for the boys,” USA Under-17 Head Coach Sean O’Leary said.
“It is important that these players compete against the best as they enter the Elite Player pathway, and we are keen to see how this group of standout athletes responds to this."
The USA U-17 squad:
Ryan Anderson (Penn), Eddie Anton (Mayfield), Jamie Borup (Christian Brothers), Paul Bosco (Brentwood College), Joe Brady (Union), Ryan Brennan (EERFU), Trevor Brennan (EERFU), Alex Brussard (NERFU), Matias Cima (Gonzaga), Andre Coquillard (Brentwood College), Joe Cowley (CCHS), Tiann De Nysschen (Midwest), Hanno Dirksen (Trojan – Georgia), Mitchell Earley (Woodlands RFC), Will Holder (East Palo Alto), Andrew Jackson (LA Cougars), Seamus Kelly (Xavier), Chip Kiser (Skyline H.S.), Jonathan Marshall (Highlanders), Conor Mills (St. Thomas H.S.), Collin Rahrig (Mishawaka), Lance Riley (Penn), Paul Rogers (St. Thomas H.S.), Davis Russ (Hart District RFC), Asher Thomas (Highlanders) and Sage Winn (Frederick RFC)
The USA U-18 and U-19 age grade teams are also set for their own respective England tours during the first week of April.