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On September 11, over 40 athletes from around the world will arrive at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, in order to compete for a spot on this season’s USA Sevens Rugby Team.

Focusing on a wide-range of skills and fitness tests, this original pool of athletes will be cut down to 20 following the conclusion of the camp on September 14. Those 20 players will be joined by Sevens Team veterans Chris Wyles and Takudzwa Ngwenya for the Team Assembly in Florida. The squad will be cut down to just 12 players by the time the U.S. Team leaves for the Bahamas and the Sevens World Cup Qualifiers on October 25-26.

“I’m looking at any athlete that has the drive, determination and is willing to put in the hard work to succeed,” Sevens Team Head Coach Al Caravelli said. “The common theme from last year’s squad was an undeniable thirst for success.

“I am very excited to see these guys train,” Caravelli added. “We have a few athletes invited to this camp who are exceptional athletes, but have never played rugby before. We also have several young players who have moved up through the collegiate ranks and all-star sevens programs. It should make for a great assembly.”

Men’s Sevens Player Pool

Jarvis Albury (OMBAC)
Erroll Allard (At-Large)
Marco Barnard (Kutztown)
Cory Blair (Huntington Beach)
Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians)
Justin Boyd (Texas A&M)
Matthew Byrd (University of Utah)
Roderigus Ceasar (Daytona Beach)
Todd Clever (Xerox Lions)
Tyrone Coppedge (South Logan Magpies)
Adam Ducoing (New Orleans)
Kevin Erskine (Tempe Rugby Club)
Talalelei Gafa (Rhinos)
James Gillenwater (At-Large)
Justin Hundley (At-Large)
Nicholas Isbrandtsen (Connecticut Wildcats)
Nicholas Johnson (Denver Barbarians)
Brad Keys (Louisville)
Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore)
Vilikesa Matanibukaca (OMBAC)
Charles Mcrea (At-Large)
Shane Moore (At-Large)
Daniel Palmer (At Large)
Zach Pangelinan (San Diego State University)
Rikus Pretorius (At-Large)
DeWon Reed (Glendale Raptors)
Dallas Robinson (At-Large)
Alex Ross (San Diego State University)
Volney Rouse (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Anwar Salaam (At-Large)
Jonathan Schaefer (UCSB)
Blaine Scully (UCLA)
Robert Shaw (Connacht & Galwegians)
Peter Sio (Belmont Shore)
Dallen Stanford (Belmont Shore)
Roland Suniula (North Harbour)
Shalom Suniula (Brisbane)
Kevin Swiryn (At-Large)
Chris Welch (Kellogg School of Management)
Joseph Welch (California)
Clint Whittler (Arkansas State University)

USA Sevens Coaching Staff and Management

Head Coach Al Caravelli
Manager Craig Brown
Strength/Conditioning Coach David Williams
Assistant Coach Craig Hartley
Assistant Coach James Walker
Assistant Coach Dan Payne
Assistant Coach Matt Sherman
Assistant Coach Chris O’Brien
Assistant Coach Brian Richardson
Skills Coach Scott Johnson
Video Analysis Daniel Yarusso
Physiotherapist Kristen Douhan
Physiotherapist Gary Dersied
Physiotherapist Brianne Bennett

Guest Coaches: Andy Katoa, Fred Watiti, John Tyler, Tim O’Brien