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The United States men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States of America Rugby Football Union in men's international rugby union. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States, and is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
Mike Hercus is an American former professional rugby union player who played at fly-half for the United States national team and several top level professional clubs around the globe.
Eddie O'Sullivan is an Irish rugby union coach, player and a former Gaelic footballer. He is a former head coach of Buccaneers RFC the United States national rugby union team and of the Ireland national rugby union team. He was head coach of Biarritz Olympique, who play in the second tier of France, until October 2015.
Rugby union in the United States is played at youth, high school, college, amateur, professional, and international levels and governed by USA Rugby. There were over 125,000 players registered with USA Rugby as of 2016. Over 2,500 rugby union clubs exist around the country, including those who are part of college rugby. Professional club competition has existed as Major League Rugby (MLR) since 2017.
Tom Billups is an American former rugby union rugby player, who played for the USA Eagles as an international and Blackheath Rugby Club, Harlequin F.C., and Pontypridd RFC as a professional. After retiring as a player in 1999, he joined the staff of the United States national team and was the head coach from 2001 to 2006. In addition to coaching the Eagles, Billups managed the U.S. national sevens team program and coached the 2005 U.S. sevens team. In 2015 Billups was inducted into U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame, and was the first person to be inducted as both a player and coach. In 2018 Billups became the 14th recipient of the Craig Sweeney Award which was first award in 1979 in memory of former United States national team member and captain, Craig Sweeney. The Sweeney Award is presented to a former national team player who has contributed significantly to the game while displaying exemplary character on and off the field.
The USA Women's National Team XVs represents the United States in women's international rugby union. The team was officially formed in 1987 and is nicknamed the Eagles.
Valenese Malifa is an American rugby union former fly-half. He has now turned his career to professional coaching in the US for Major League Rugby. He assisted Atlanta’s team, Rugby ATL, from 2018-2020 and has since moved to Dallas to coach the Dallas Jackals in their inaugural year. As a professional player, he was a member of the United States national rugby union team from 2007 until 2012, and competed in three Rugby World Cups including participating with the squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
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Marcel Girard Brache is an American rugby union player. Brache was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised primarily in South Africa. He currently plays for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR), generally as a centre but can also play wing.
Folau Niua is an American rugby union former player. He played fly-half for the United States national rugby sevens team from 2011 to 2022, and holds the U.S. record for most tournament appearances with over 65 caps.
William John E. Hooley is a former rugby union player who played fly-half for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States.
Tony Ridnell is an American businessman, former international rugby player, and army officer. He is the founder of TRInternational, Inc., a Chemical sales company.
Benjamin Cima is an American rugby union player who plays fly-half for the United States men's national team. Cima also plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Christopher Patrick O'Brien is an American retired rugby union player who played at fly-half and centre and later served as an assistant coach for the United States national rugby union team.
Christopher Lippert is an American retired rugby union player who played at prop for the United States national rugby union team and the Barbarian F.C.
Marcus Tupuola is an American professional rugby union player who plays as a back for the United States national sevens team.
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Denis F. Shanagher is an American former international rugby union player.
References
- ↑ "Eagles swoop for another victory". Dundee Courier . November 4, 1987.
- ↑ "What's hardest for rugby player? The national anthem". Tallahassee Democrat . June 8, 1984.
- ↑ "Feathers fly over Eagles". The Guardian . May 30, 1987.