The land of the free and the home of the brave. Today marks Thanksgiving in the United States of America, and the rugby world is certainly thankful for some of top talents to have come out of the states throughout the years.
Despite not being amongst the titans of international rugby, the United States are amongst the leading tier two nations in the world. The Eagles have soared to the Rugby World Cup in eight of the 10 instillments, yet have never been able to progress out of the Pool stages. Since 2016, the United States have been competing in the Americas Rugby Championship, and are two-time winners of the competition (2017 and 2018).
Throughout the history of United States Rugby, some top talents have emerged from the land of stars and stripes. Some of these players have gone on to represent different nations, and we've pieced together an Ultimate XV, of the best United States eligible rugby players from across rugby's past and present.
BACK THREE
15. Blaine Scully
14. Chris Wyles
11. Carlin Isles
We have selected a trio of retired United States stars for the back three, with arguably the fastest rugby player of all time taking the number 11 jersey. There was no understating how rapid Carlin Isles was back in his prime, with the speedster clocking a top speed of 25.7mph, and his best a 100m sprint coming in at 10.13s. For comparison, Isles time would have qualified him for the 100m semi-finals, in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
On the opposite wing is Chris Wyles, who is widely regarded amongst the Premiership Rugby's best American players. Wyles was well versed across both wings, centre and fullback, and starred for Nottingham in his early career. Wyles' Premiership tenure came through a year-long stint at Northampton Saints, before his best remembered decade long run with Saracens. Wyles is a four-time Premiership champion with Sarries, and also has two Champions Cup winners medals in his cabinet.
Coming in at fullback is Blaine Scully, who was a fan favourite at Welford Road during his time in the Premiership. Scully played two seasons for the Tigers, before making the move to Wales and signing for Cardiff Blues. The fullback remained in the Welsh capital for four seasons, and was apart of history when Cardiff won the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2018, becoming the first Welsh club to lift European silverware.
CENTRES
13. Will Helu
12. Tommaso Boni
We bolster the midfield of our Ultimate American XV, with two United States capped players who have previously represented a different nation. Will Helu made his international debut for Tonga in 2010, and represented the Pacific Island at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Helu is well known to rugby fans from the UK, due to his time at Wasps, and he also enjoyed a two-year stint in Edinburgh.
Helu's globe trotting career includes playing for clubs in Romania, France and Italy, as well as Bristol. The centre currently plays for Atlanta, and made his USA debut in 2020. Joining Helu in the centres is former Italy international Tommaso Boni, who too has switched nations after cutting ties to the 'Azzurri'. Boni made his Italy debut against Canada in 2015, and racked up a total of 12 caps in total. The Zebre Parma man is one of the Eagles newest additions, and made his USA debut last Summer against Romania.
HALFBACKS
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Nick McCarthy
Sale Sharks player AJ MacGinty attacks Wasps player Tommy Taylor during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Sale Sharks and Wasps at JW Bell Stadium on Sept 22 - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
Bristol Bears' AJ MacGinty was a straight-forward pick for our Ultimate XV. The fly-half is still plying his trade in the Premiership, yet has only featured once so far in the 2023/24 season. MacGinty injured his hamstring in the opening weekend against Leicester Tigers, and is eyeing a return to Ashton Gate before too long. A Sale Sharks stalwart, the American international called the AJ Bell home for eight seasons, and won the 2020 Premiership Rugby Cup with the side.
Set to supply the ammunition to his first receiver, scrum-half Nick McCarthy is our pick for the number nine jersey. Lining up with MacGinty on the international stage, McCarthy has spent his career between Irish giants Leinster and Munster. The Irish born halfback is currently in his second Dublin stint, and has lifted one Champions Cup and two league titles with the Irish province.
FRONT ROW
1. Alex Corbisiero
2. Robert Irimescu
3. Hope Rogers
Onto the front row now, and we begin with a twice capped British and Irish Lion in Alex Corbisiero. The former England loose-head made 31 test appearances, that predominantly came in the Stuart Lancaster era of the national side. Born in New York City, Corbisiero moved to England just before he turned five, and grew up around London. The 35-year-old made his way through the ranks at London Scottish, before swapping Exiles for London Irish, as he made his Premiership breakthrough. Corbisiero's later singed for Northampton Saints, in a three year deal before his retirement in 2016.
Robert Irimescu is our choice at hooker, and the Romanian international shares his birth place with Corbisiero. Hailing from the Big Apple of NYC, Irimescu's journey to rugby took him through the famous Penn State University and onto the New England Free Jacks. He signed for Old Glory DC in 2022, but has since made the move to Eastern Europe, having joined Romanian side CSM Știința Baia Mare for his international career.
Hope Rogers of Exeter Chiefs Women is tackled by Marlie Packer, co-captain of Saracens Women and Georgia Evans of Saracens Women during the Allianz Premier 15s semi-final match between Exeter Chiefs Women and Saracens Women at Sandy Park on 11 June 2023. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.
Finishing off the front row is our first women's player of the squad, as Exeter Chiefs star Hope Rogers comes into the fold. Rogers is also Penn State alumni, and achieved Four National Championships and two MVP awards with the college. Rogers joined Susie Appleby's side in January, and has had an immediate impact upon Premiership Women's Rugby. Rogers was a cornerstone for the Chiefs, as they reached the final of last season's play-offs. The prop already has three USA Sevens caps to her name, which showcases her unreal fitness from a positional standpoint.
SECOND ROW
4. Luke Gross
5. Samu Manoa
Packing down the scrum are two Americans that have previously starred in the Premiership, beginning with former Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins lock Luke Gross. Now the Head Coach of Indiana University back across the pond, Gross was a titanic powerhouse in his hay-day, that dominated the arial battle in the English top flight. Gross began his professional career at Quins, before moving to Italy with stints at Rovigo and Roma. He returned to the UK in a spell with Scarlets, before racking up seasonal shifts with Rotherham Titans, Newcastle Falcons, Doncaster Knights and Sheffield Tigers.
Partnering up with Gross is Samu Manoa, who was a fan favourite at Franklin's Gardens during his four year run with Northampton Saints. A monstrous ball-carrier with a tricky skillset, Manoa bulldozed his way through his opponents, and marched the Saints on to the 2014 Premiership title. A versatile forward, Manoa made appearances at lock and across the back-row for Saints, yet is most prominently seen at second row in his recent seasons, with the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby.
BACK ROW
6. Phaidra Knight
7. Sam Underhill
8. Dan Lyle
Rounding off our squad in the back-row, we've picked possibly the greatest United States Women's rugby player on the blindside flank. Phaidra Knight was named as USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2020, and was a pillar of the national side for the entirety of her career. Knight was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017, after she hung up her boots the same year. As hard-hitting and no nonsense as they come, Phaidra at times carried the national women's side, and has rightly been recognised in her tremendous accolades.
Into the seven jersey now, and we've selected workhorse England back-row Sam Underhill for the spot. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Underhill is eligible to represent the Eagles, if he undergoes a three-year stand down period from international caps. This doesn't seem to be on the cards any time soon, as the Bath star was called into Steve Borthwick's squad for the Rugby World Cup Bronze Medal Match against Argentina last month. With a rugby journey that took him to Gloucester, Ospreys, and back to the West Country with Bath, Underhill has been shining in blue, black and white since 2017, and leaves his bruised opponents the same colours when they leave the pitch.
Sam Underhill of Bath Rugby on the break during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Bath at Sandy Park, Exeter on 24th December 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
At number eight we've picked Dan Lyle, who paved the way for Underhill as an American-born rugby player to enjoy a tenure at the Recreation Ground. Lyle played for Bath from 1996 to 2003, and won the Champions Cup with the Somerset club, and later captained the side. The back-rower then had a brief spell with Leicester Tigers, as he starred at Welford Road for the 2003/04 season ahead of his retirement. Lyle also boasts the honour of representing the iconic Barbarians, with two caps in the fabled black and white jersey.
REPLACEMENTS
Kapeli Pifeleti of Saracens during the Greene King IPA Championship match between Cornish Pirates and Saracens at Mennaye Field, Penzance on March 6. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
16. Kapeli Pifeleti (United States and Saracens)
17. Paul Mullen (United States / Emerging Ireland and Utah Warriors)
18. Catherine Benson (USA Women and Sale Sharks Women)
19. Sharon Blaney (USA Women and Oregon)
20. Todd Clever (USA and Newcastle Falcons)
21. Carly Waters (USA Women and Sale Sharks Women)
22. Emilie Bydwell (USA Women)
23. Tommy Seymour (Scotland and Glasgow Warriors)
