Paris Olympian earns first USA Eagles 15s international tour call-up

Paris Olympian Malacchi Esdale could potentially debut for the USA Men’s Eagles next month after being named in the team’s travelling squad for a three-Test tour, starting with a match against Scotland on November 1.

Esdale was part of a talented USA side at the Paris Games, which included SVNS Series legend Perry Baker and rising star Lucas Lacamp. Team USA faced Antoine Dupont’s France during the Games, before bowing out of medal contention with a loss to Australia in the quarter-finals.

In 15s, Esdale played a season for the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby before putting pen to paper on a deal with Seattle Seawolves, with the club announcing the sevens star had signed on September 9, 2024.

Forward David Ainu’u and Mikey Sosene-Feagai have both been included in the Eagles squad for the first time in 2025  after overcoming injuries, while Michael Baska has been selected for international duty for the first time since 2022.

With the Eagles securing their place at the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup after defeating Samoa 29-13 in the Pacific Nations Cup, USA Rugby notes the team is focused on “identifying and cultivating a Rugby World Cup calibre team” during the Autumn internationals.

The USA started their three-Test tour against Scotland at Murrayfield before facing Georgia in Batumi on November 8, and then Romania at Bucharest’s Arcul du Triumf on November 15. These are all important fixtures with world rankings set to impact World Cup pool seedings.

“The autumn tour always presents an opportunity to measure the team against what is required to be competitive in international rugby; preparing for a two-stage tour with the dynamics of Regulation 9, extended travel between countries and competing on opposing turf,” head coach Scott Lawrence said in a statement.

“The opening match against Scotland is a notable opportunity against a top team, setting the stage for two substantial games that follow in Georgia and Romania.”

David Ainu’u, Tonga Kofe, Rufus McLean and Mafi Ma’afu will not be available for the tour-opener against Scotland in Edinburgh, but the quartet are all expected to be in the mix for selection in time for the Georgia and Romania matches.

USA Men’s Eagles Autumn internationals squad

Ezekiel Lindenmuth (prop, unattached)
Maliu Niuafe (prop, CA Legion)
Payton Telea-Ilalio (prop, CA Legion)
Pono Davis (prop, unattached)
Kaleb Geiger (hooker, New England Free Jacks)
Shilo Kein (hooker, unattached)
Mikey Sosene-Feagai (hooker, CA Legion)
Viliami Helu (backrow, unattached)
Rick Rose* (backrow, unattached)
Brandon Harvey* (backrow, unattached)
Christian Poidevin (backrow, unattached)
Cory Daniel (backrow, Old Glory DC)
Jason Damm (backrow, CA Legion)
Marno Redelinghuys (backrow, unattached)
Paddy Ryan (backrow, unattached)
Makeen Alikhan (backrow, Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Tevita Naqali (backrow, Old Glory DC)
Ruben De Haas (scrumhalf, unattached)
Ethan McVeigh (scrumhalf, unattached)
Michael Baska (scrumhalf, Chicago Hounds)
Chris Hilsenbeck (flyhalf, Chicago Hounds)
Luke Carty (flyhalf, unattached)
Tavite Lopeti (centre, unattached)
Tommaso Boni (centre, unattached)
Dominic Besag (centre, Saint Mary’s College)
Erich Storti (centre/fullback, Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Lauina Futi (wing, Seattle Seawolves)
Malacchi Esdale** (wing/centre, Seattle Seawolves)
Mitch Wilson (wing/fullback, Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Toby Fricker (wing/fullback, Bristol Bears)

USA Men’s Eagles available for Georgia and Romania

David Ainu’u (prop, Toulouse)
Tonga Kofe (prop, Leicester Tigers)
Rufus McLean (wing, unattached)
Nafi Ma’afu** (backrow, Montauban – FRA)
Jack Iscaro (prop, Stade Français)

*seeking Eagles debut

**first international tour

USA Men’s Eagles non-travelling reserves

Jake Turnbull (unattached)
Sean McNulty (unattached)
Seth Smith (unattached)
Tomas Casares (unattached)
Tesimoni Tonga’uiha (unattached)
Emmanuel Albert (unattached)
Luke White (Chicago Hounds)
Connor Buckley (Old Glory DC)
Max Schumacher (unattached)
Rand Santos (University of California – Berkeley)
Mark O’Keefe (Chicago Hounds)
Junior Gafa (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Ryan James (unattached)
Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds)
Peyton Wall (Chicago Hounds)
Julian Roberts (unattached)
Steffan Crimp (Cardiff RFC – WAL)
Lance Williams (Utah Warriors)
Angus McClellan (Utah Warriors)
Corbin Smith (Hartpury University – ENG)

USA Men’s Eagles unavailable list

Siaosi Mahoni (Seattle Seawolves)
Benjamin Bonasso (unattached)
Sam Golla (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears – ENG)
Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence – FRA)
Tom Pittman (Anthem Rugby Carolina)