USA XV captain reacts to the return of South African-born Eagle ‘beast’

Marno Redelinghuys will be back in the red, white and blue this weekend, and USA XV captain Jason Damm didn’t hold back when expressing his excitement over the selection – describing the South African-born backrower as both “a dog” and “a beast.”

It’s been more than 270 days since Redelinghuys last represented the USA at the highest level, suiting up at lock in a 26-18 win over Romania in November. The 33-year-old followed that up with 10 appearances for the Seattle Seawolves during the 2026 Major League Rugby season.

But Redelinghuys missed out on the playing squad for the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup Tests in July, instead among the 16 players listed under the ‘returning to play’ banner.  2019 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Joe Taufete’e was another.

But the loose forward will line up this weekend in a non-Test match for the USA, facing an Argentina XV at Inter Miami FC Stadium on Saturday. It’s shaping up as a valuable opportunity for the side to face high-level opposition 14 months out from Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

Damm returns to the second row for the match, packing down alongside Australian-born Nathan Den Hoedt as the locking duo. Makeen Alikhan will line up at No. 8, while Redelinghuys and in-form Paddy Ryan take their place on the flanks.

“He’s a dog. He’s a guy that I love playing with. Enjoyed playing with him in Atlanta for a long time – when he went away, you try to avoid each other when you’re out there because it’s going to be a big clash always,” Damm told reporters when asked about Redelinghuys.

“He’s a beast. He works really hard. He brings good energy. He’s come back off of a little bit of an injury that he was holding on to from the end of the MLR season, come in really fit. I think he ran maybe a PB Bronco. He’s moving really well.

“He holds everyone to a high standard with his physicality and the energy he brings around the park.”

USA XV coach Scott Lawrence has selected former HSBC SVNS Series star Lance Williams on the bench. Williams will wear the No. 21 jersey as loose forwards cover, giving the 33-year-old more playing time after debuting for the Eagles last month.

Williams first played for the USA Sevens side at the Dubai Sevens in 2022, but recently got the chance to represent the 15s side. The University of Hawaii product started at blindside flanker on debut against Zimbabwe, who are another side bound for the World Cup in Australia.

“That’s my guy, Lance. I’ve got a lot of time for him. And the energy he brings into the group and the work rate,” Damm said.

“His sevens background has really been showing in the way he attacks the transition game and the opportunities we want to create with winning the scraps in that middle third.

“Excited for him to get out there again in the red, white and blue and really put it to the test.”

The USA earned an unbeaten 3-0 record during the July Nations Cup matches, overcoming a few sides set to compete at next year’s World Cup. Chis Hilsenbeck was the hero in a nail-biting win over Portugal, before the Eagles defeated Zimbabwe and Spain.

While the clash with an Argentina XV isn’t a Test match, almost everyone named in the matchday 23 has been capped by the Eagles. Less than 14 months out from the showpiece event, those picked to play for the USA XV are itching to face an Argentinian side.

“It’s massive,” Damm added.

“Any opportunity is one we want to take and we’re really excited to take,”

“Obviously we’re super stoked to come out of July with three wins. I don’t want to say that wasn’t the goal but the goal was to go in and get better every single game and I think we did that. The Spain game was probably our best performance of the three so finishing where we wanted to.

“We know this is going to be a tough challenge. Argentina, obviously a great rugby nation and they’re going to put a great side out here to challenge us. For us, it’s about playing the best rugby we can possibly on Saturday.”