Veteran Eagle Stephen Tomasin leads USA squad for Coral Coast 7s

USA coach Zack Test has named a familiar 14-man squad to travel to Sigatoka for this week’s Coral Coast 7s in Fiji, with the Eagles Sevens returning to international competition ahead of the all-new three-leg SVNS 2 campaign.

USA Sevens veteran Stephen Tomasin captains the USA at the three-day event at Lawaqa Park, which will see the Eagles take on some world-class opposition. Lucas Pattinson is a new face in the travelling roster, having joined the residency set-up in Chula Vista, California.

Paris Olympian Lucas Lacamp headlines the group alongside the likes of Aaron Cummings, David Still III and Ben Broselle. Orrin Bizer, Adam Channel, Will Chevalier, Lucas Pattinson, Jack Wendling, Jake Broselle, Pita Vi, Marcus Tupuola and Tucker Trickey have also been named.

The USA start their Coral Coast 7s campaign against the Chennai Bulls Select from India, taking the field at 6:59pm ET on Wednesday. They will also take on McDonald’s Mike Friday Select 7s at 10:55pm ET later on day one.

Dominion Brother will be the USA’s third opponent, with the two teams going head-to-head on ground one at 5:00pm ET on Thursday. Finals begin at 11:15pm ET on Thursday, with the USA hoping for some confidence-building performances before SVNS 2.

“We are looking for players to rise and consistently impact the game positively, respond to adversity, hold our standards, and trust what we have built on the off season and continue to build upon it,” Test said.

“We are looking for consistent, repeatable, positive impact on the game overall – not flashes. We want to see players making good decisions, impacting moments, and influencing play whether they’re directly involved or supporting.

“New opposition will challenge us in different ways, and will test how quickly we respond: our body language, our communication, and our ability to reset and stay connected to the next action. We want to see that our standards travel. Regardless of venue, opponent, or circumstance, the expectations around effort, detail, and behaviour don’t change.”

The USA will compete in the second-tier of the new SVNS Series model, as they look to qualify for the three-leg World Championships. SVNS 2 gets underway in about one month, with an event taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 14-15.

Montevideo hosts the second stop of the season on March 21-22, before the SNVS 2 finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 28-29. There are spots in the World Championship up for grabs, where qualified teams will take on the eight SVNS 1 sides.

“Competing on foreign soil against different styles and challenges shows the group what they’re capable of when they stay true to who they are,” Test explained.

“That confidence is earned, not manufactured. So, while we train skills at home, we can’t replicate the pressure, the unity, or the growth that comes from being tested together overseas and that’s why these trips are such a powerful part of our preparation.

“They bring speed, physicality, instinct, and creativity often all in the same moment. That means there’s nowhere to hide.

“Tackle technique, spacing, communication, and decision-making under pressure all get exposed quickly. What makes it especially valuable early is that they punish hesitation. When systems aren’t clear, connection breaks down, or standards slip even briefly, you’ll feel it straight away.”

“As a first hit-out, it’s perfect: high tempo, high challenge, honest feedback. It tells us very quickly where we’re at and what we need to sharpen as we continue to build. We will see immediate feedback on what’s real and what still needs work. We will be forced to stay disciplined while being adaptable, giving us the exact balance we want to test at this stage.”

USA travelling roster for Coral Coast 7s

• Aaron Cummings

• Ben Broselle

• Orrin Bizer

• Adam Channel

• Will Chevalier

• David Still III

• Lucas Pattinson

• Stephen Tomasin (C)

• Lucas Lacamp

• Jack Wendling

• Jake Broselle

• Pita Vi

• Marcus Tupuola

• Tucker Trickey