Seawolves Center Selected to South Africa Tour as Final Prep for USA Men’s World Cup Final Qualification Tournament
October 13, 2022 – Major League Rugby (MLR) – Seattle Seawolves News Release
Seattle Seawolves 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.”
Story by Calder Cahill
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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