Seawolf Center Selected to South Africa Tour as Final Prep for USA Men's World Cup Final Qualification Tournament

Seawolf Center Selected to South Africa Tour as Final Prep for USA Men’s World Cup Final Qualification Tournament

October 7, 2022 – Major League Rugby (MLR)Seattle Seawolves News Release

Seattle Seawolf center and 2022 Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year Tavite Lopeti has been selected to the USA Men’s Falcons side for their fall tour to South Africa. As one of the Eagles’ choice centers, Lopeti continues to raise his hand for head coach Gary Gold as the US builds towards qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.


Following an alignment camp in Glendale, CO the USA Men’s Eagles will begin their Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament preparations in South Africa as they compete under the USA Falcons name on October 14 and 21 as part of the Toyota Challenge at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Competing as the USA Falcons, with these fixtures not being test matches and the entirety of the player pool not available, the USA will face off against the Toyota Cheetahs, a professional side competing in the European Rugby Challenge Cup and the Airlink Pumas of the Currie Cup. Streaming details for the Toyota Challenge matches and Final Qualification Tournament will be announced shortly.

Competing as the USA Falcons, with these fixtures not being test matches and the entirety of the player pool not available, the USA will face off against the Toyota Cheetahs, a professional side competing in the European Rugby Challenge Cup and the Airlink Pumas of the Currie Cup. Streaming details for the Toyota Challenge matches and Final Qualification Tournament will be announced shortly.

Men’s Eagles Head Coach Gary Gold said: “It is an amazing opportunity to bring our side out and compete in the inaugural Toyota Challenge. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together players who have competed in the MLR the first half of the year, and offers them the opportunity to play against some of the best provincial teams in South Africa. This experience will be unique to quite a few of the players who have not spent much time playing rugby outside of the United States, and an important set of fixtures for our qualifier preparations.”

USA MEN’S FALCONS MATCH SCHEDULE

Friday, October 14, 2022 | 12:00 PM ET – Toyota Cheetahs vs USA Men’s Falcons

Friday, October 21, 2022 | 5:45 AM ET – Airlink Pumas vs USA Men’s Falcons

USA MEN’S FALCONS | TOYOTA CHALLENGE PLAYER POOL

FIRST NAME LAST NAME CLUB

Nate Augspurger San Diego Legion

Marcel Brache Austin Gilgronis

Bryce Campbell Austin Gilgronis

Luke Carty LA Giltinis

Nick Civetta Rugby New York

Michael De Waal Austin Gilgronis

Cam Dolan NOLA Gold

Christian Dyer Houston SaberCats

Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz Old Glory DC

Dylan Fawsitt Rugby New York

Kaleb Geiger Rugby New York

Cory Gilliland-Daniel Old Glory DC

Viliami Helu Rugby ATL

Jack Iscaro Old Glory DC

Paul Lasike Utah Warriors

Tavite Lopeti Seattle Seawolves

Angus Maclellan Utah Warriors

CC Mahoni Houston SaberCats

Chris Mattina Austin Gilgronis

Conner Mooneyham Austin Gilgronis

Paul Mullen Utah Warriors

Keni Nasoqeqe Houston SaberCats

Faka’osi Pifeleti Austin Gilgronis

Ryan Rees Rugby ATL

Nathan Sylvia San Diego Legion

Moni Tonga’uiha NOLA Gold

Duncan Van Schalkwyk Rugby ATL

Chance Wenglewski Rugby New York

Mitch Wilson New England FreeJacks

Benjamin Bonasso Rugby New York

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