Two USA Eagles join squad as injury cover before Pacific Nations Cup

The USA Eagles have called two players into the squad ahead of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-finals, with Kaleb Geiger and Vili Helu joining the team in Japan as cover for an injured trio.

USA Rugby announced on the eve of the semi-final clash with Japan’s Brave Blossoms in Osaka that Geiger and Helu have come into the squad as injury cover for Campbell Robb, Ma’ake Muti and Brandon Harvey.

Geiger is a two-time Major League Rugby Championship winner with the New England Free Jacks and is coming off another strong nine-appearance season. The front-rower last represented the Eagles in November, featuring in the run-on side against Scotland, Georgia and Romania.

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Helu is another Eagle who started against Six Nations side Scotland at Murrayfield on November 2, 2025, named at blindside flanker. The backrower shifted to the bench for the next two Tests and is coming off a strong season with Kurita Water Gush in Japan’s third division.

Of the three injured Eagles, Harvey is the most experienced at Test level. Harvey played in all three matches during the all-new World Rugby Nations Cup in July, and backed that up with a 34-minute shift off the bench for the USA XV in Miami.

Muti was another impact player in the USA XV’s thrilling one-point win over an Argentina XV, but the front-rower is yet to debut in a Test. Robb also remains uncapped, but was named the 2026 MLR Rookie of the Year after impressing for Anthem Rugby Carolina.

USA coach Scott Lawrence has named the 23-man roster to take on Japan this weekend, with Jason Damm captaining the side from the second-row. Damm will be partnered by Australian-born Nathan Den Hoedt, who debuted for the Eagles in July.

Payton Telea-Ilalio packs down at loosehead prop, joined up front by Shilo Klein and Tonga Kofe. Former World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Joe Taugete’e is among the front-rowers looking to make an impact off the bench.

In the backrow, Seattle Seawolves enforcer Marno Redelinghuys has been selected at blindside flanker, with Paddy Ryan holding onto the starting spot at openside. Makeen Alikhan rounds out the loose forwards as the No. 8.

Ruben de Haas and Chris Hilsenbeck are again the starting halves, with Dominic Besag and Tavite Lopeti lining up in the centres. Noah Brown gets a start on one wing, with Mark O’Keeffe on the other and Mitch Wilson at fullback.

“I think Joe’s been an enormous influence since he’s been here. [His] experience is just can’t get so you’ve got to live in the trenches a little bit so Joe’s experience is welcome into the environment,” Lawrence told reporters when asked about Taufete’e.

“He knows how to play in these big moments and so you trust him to do that.”

Lawrence added: “We’re a year away from being where we want to be. We’ve got some work to do but we’re three months ahead of where we were three months ago.

“There is a plan to go towards the World Cup. I think we’re ahead in some areas, I think we’re behind in some areas. Overall, relatively on track.”

USA Eagles to take on Japan

1. Payton Telea-Ilalio
2. Shilo Klein
3. Tonga Kofe
4. Jason Damm (c)
5. Nathan Den Hoedt
6. Marno Redelinghuys
7. Paddy Ryan
8. Makeen Alikhan
9. Ruben de Haas
10. Chris Hilsenbeck
11. Noah Brown
12. Dominic Besag
13. Tavite Lopeti
14. Mark O’Keeffe
15. Mitch Wilson

Replacements

16. Joe Taufete’e

17. Fakaosifolau Pifeleti

18. Alex Maughan

19. Sam Golla

20. Benjamin Bonasso

21. Michael Baska

22. Luke Carty

23. Julian Roberts