UPDATE - JAN 18 | Marcus Tupuola could not travel to Malaga due to family obligations; Aaron Cummings will jump into the 13 and make his senior national team debut. Tupuola will join the squad for Seville next week.
Head Coach Mike Friday has picked 14-players for the first World Series stops of 2022 in Malaga and Seville January 21-23 and 28-30, respectively. Matches are broadcast on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock.
Roster Highlights
- Perry Baker will earn his 50th World Series cap
- Chase Haskin will earn his first cap in the World Series and Aaron Cummings has the opportunity to make his debut if activated as a traveling reserve
- Faitala Talapusi will play for the first time since Paris 2018
- Olympian Maceo Brown returns for the first time since the Tokyo Games
- Colorado XOs’ David Still plays for the first time since Edmonton 2021
- Lucas LaCamp, Jack Wendling and Folau Niua are unavailable
- Malacchi Esdale, Ben Broselle, Adam Channel, Jake Lachina, Cody Melphy and Jerome Nale are all unavailable due to injury
Last Tournament | Dubai, December 2021
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series held back-to-back tournaments in Dubai in December of last year (2021) marking the opening rounds of the new season. The USA Men’s Sevens opened with a bang, making it to the Cup Final of the first event only to fall against South Africa and claim a silver medal. In the second weekend, the Eagles Sevens struggled to perform with consistency, leading to a seventh place finish. Overall, the squad ranks fourth with another seven events to go in the 2022 season.
In the second leg of Dubai, Carlin Isles led the team in tries and clean breaks. Stephen Tomasin led overall points and tied with Perry Baker in tackles.
Malaga Matchups
The USA are drawn in Pool C with home team Spain, Samoa and Argentina. Spain are ranked 10th overall after finishing 10th in both Dubai events. Samoa will play in their first World Series event of the 2022 Season while Argentina are ranked 2nd overall after claiming back-to-back bronze medals in Dubai.
Head Coach Mike Friday said:
“We are all looking forward to another opportunity to represent in two exciting new stops on the circuit. This is very much a new group who want to move us forward and build on what those before have done and they realize the size of the challenge and responsibility that lies ahead in what is a very uncompromising competition.
“We know we will make mistakes, have to learn as we play and be resilient in those times of adversity, ensuring we dig deep in both tournaments.
“The challenge for us as a group will be to minimize errors in the basics of the game, tactically be cohesive and play as one. We are in a highly competitive group with the other three teams being hugely physical on both sides of the ball and in Spain there is the extra spice and passion of playing at home.
“Excited to see the boys take the field and we should all get ready for the rollercoaster of emotions that the games will no doubt bring.”
USA Men’s Sevens Roster
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HSBC TOURNAMENTS(TO DATE) |
| 1. Carlin Isles | Wing | 59 |
| 2. Logan Tago | Forward | 2 |
| 3. Gavan D'Amore | Forward | 4 |
| 4. Chase Schor Haskin | Forward | Debut |
| 5. Joe Schroeder | Forward | 16 |
| 6. Kevon Williams (C) | Halfback/Wing | 31 |
| 7. Faitala Talapusi | Halfback | 3 |
| 8. Maceo Brown | Center/Forward | 14 |
| 9. Stephen Tomasin | Utility | 39 |
| 11. Perry Baker | Wing/Center | 49 |
| 12. David Still | Wing/Forward | 2 |
| 13. Naima Fuala'au | Halfback | 12 |
| 14. Aaron Cummings | Forward | Debut |
USA Men’s Sevens Traveling Staff
Head Coach | Mike Friday
Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Strength & Conditioning | Alex Ross
Athletic Trainer | Bobby Gragston
Team Manager | Scott Novack
USA Men’s Sevens Schedule | Malaga
Friday, January 21
USA vs Spain | 7:34 AM ET
USA vs Samoa | 1:05 PM ET
Saturday, January 22
USA vs Argentina | 8:01 AM ET
Knockouts begin as early as 11:42 AM ET
Ends
