USA Eagles coach’s latest update on former NFL draftee’s rugby progress

Former New England Patriots linebacker Cassh Maluia is nearing an international rugby debut for the USA, with coach Scott Lawrence providing an update on the 2020 NFL draftee’s progress ahead of the Eagles’ third World Rugby Nations Cup Test.

Maluia hasn’t been named in the USA’s matchday 23 to play Rugby World Cup-bound Spain in Cary, North Carolina. But the athletic talent from the University of Wyoming, who was drafted by legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick six years ago, is closing in on an Eagles appearance.

Following an impressive Major League Rugby campaign with the California Legion, which saw the franchise reach the Final against the Chicago Hounds, the 27-year-old centre was rewarded with a call-up to the national squad.

Nathan Den Hoedt, Perry Mayo and Julian Roberts have had the chance to enter the Test arena for the first time in recent weeks, but Maluia continues to wait in the wings. Two-Test centre Roberts will start against Spain, while Tavite Lopeti provides cover off the bench.

“He’s pushing. Similar to Julian, it’s a timing of when we introduce them,”  Lawrence said when asked about the NFL convert.

“I think [Maluia] offers something a little different, as you can imagine with his size and athleticism. He’s close, he’s pushing; there’s some areas of his game we’d like to se him develop a little bit more.

“One thing we find with our crossover athletes is it never happens as fast as you want in terms of the change in their ability to do repeated efforts in rugby versus power sports. That’s usually one of the longer-tail things that takes besides there’s game IQ, there’s some other things.

“Building that capacity takes a bit. He’s working hard on the field and in the gym and he’s getting extras and he’ll make his debut soon enough.”

Cassh Maluia was selected by the Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft but is now part of the USA Eagles squad in the World Rugby Nations Cup.
– @FinnMorton5 👨‍💻 spoke with the former NFL draftee#usarugby #NFLhttps://t.co/sAwAUOVODs

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2026

Roberts is just days away from a maiden start at Test level, two weeks after debuting in a 30-29 thriller against Portugal. The Anthem Rugby Carolina flyer retained a spot on the bench for the match against Zimbabwe but will play a new role this week.

Lopeti has been moved from the run-on side to the bench, with the 28-Test midfielder the second-most experienced player listed in the replacements. Luke Carty has made one more appearance, and the playmaker was a difference-maker in the victory against Zimbabwe.

These selection calls are being made with next year’s Rugby World Cup in mind, with the USA returning to the sport’s biggest stage after missing out in 2023. The Eagles will take on France, Japan and Samoa in pool play.

“One of the objectives for the year is to build a depth chart to go to the World Cup. We need to build depth in our backline, and in particular our centres,” Lawrence told reporters.

“Tavite Lopeti has been a great player for us and he’ll continue to be a great player and he’ll continue to start games and be a part of the team going forward.

“This was an opportunity to introduce Julian into the mix. We’re gradually starting him with a few minutes in the Portugal game and then we grew his minutes [against Zimbabwe]. This is just part of his journey as a player – he gets an opportunity to start the game and with some confidence that Lopeti is on the bench if needed.

“That’s important for us to bring young players through and a thoughtful way.”

USA Men’s Eagles to take on Spain in World Rugby Nations Cup

1. Jack Iscaro — 20 caps
2. Kapeli Pifeleti — 22 caps
3. Tonga Kofe — 8 caps
4. Nathan Den Hoedt — 2 caps
5. Brandon Harvey — 3 caps
6. Cory Daniel — 19 caps
7. Paddy Ryan — 19 caps
8. Jason Damm (C) — 17 caps
9. Ruben De Haas — 46 caps
10. Chris Hilsenbeck — 8 caps
11. Perry Mayo — 2 caps
12. Dominic Besag — 20 caps
13. Julian Roberts — 2 caps
14. Mark O’Keeffe — 4 caps
15. Mitch Wilson — 20 caps

Replacements

16. Shilo Klein — 8 caps
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth — 9 caps
18. Charlie Abel — Debut*
19. Nafitalai Ma’afu — 4 caps
20. Ben Bonasso — 10 caps
21. Ethan McVeigh — 10 caps
22. Luke Carty — 29 caps
23. Tavite Lopeti — 28 caps

*Charlie Abel is in line to make his Test debut