USA include German international in wider World Cup qualifying squad

In addition to more familiar names like AJ MacGinty, Cam Dolan, and David Ainu’u, former Germany international Chris Hilsenbeck has been included in the USA’s extended player squad for 2025 when 2027 World Cup qualification is on the line.

Head coach Scott Lawrence has selected 72 players, as preparations ramp up for the Pacific Nations Cup, which will see the best three teams other than the already qualified Fiji and Japan, punch their ticket to Australia.

USA missed out on the last World Cup in France and will be desperate to avoid a repeat, especially as they are hosting the 2031 tournament.

Californian Hilsenbeck is one of 19 uncapped players in the squad, which also includes former Scotland and Glasgow winger Rufus McLean and Olympian Malacchi Esdale.

Hilsenbeck plays his club rugby with Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby, as do the majority of the squad, although there is a strong French influence.

He won 22 caps for Germany between 2012 and 2019 and was a member of the squad that pushed Canada hard in the repechage for the 2019 World Cup.

Joe Taufete’e, Tesimoni Tonga’uiha and Tommaso Boni are also on Lawrence’s radar as they continue their revovery from injury and work towards a return to play.

Lawrence said: “There have had a number of entrance markers put in place to select an initial EPS (Extended Player Squad) for which this group, outside of injury, has largely met.

“The men’s national team will continue to expect players who want to be selected for this critical year, to play meaningful minutes and execute above their professional peers in order to be considered for international honours.”

USA host Belgium, Spain and England in July before competing in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Men’s Eagles 2025 EPS

Forwards
Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC)
Payton Telea (San Diego Legion)
Jake Turnbull (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Houston SaberCats)
Nate Sylvia (San Diego Legion)
Alex Maughan (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
David Ainu’u (Toulouse)
Paul Mullen (NOLA Gold)
Pono Davis (Houston SaberCats)
Tonga Kofe (Utah Warriors)
Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion(
Kapeli Pifeleti (Provence)
Mikey Sosene-Feagai (RFCLA)
Sean McNulty (Miami Sharks)
Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks)
Dylan Fawsitt (Chicago Hounds)
Sam Golla (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Nafi Ma’afu (Biarritz)
Brandon Harvey (San Diego Legion)
Renger Van Eerten (Brive)
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold)
Siaosi Mahoni (Seattle Seawolves)
Jason Damm (RFCLA)
Mike Grandy (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Matt Jensen (Utah Warriors)
Marno Redelinghuys (Houston SaberCats)
Viliami Helu (San Diego Legion)
Keni Nasoqeqe (Houston SaberCats)
Emmanuel Albert (Houston SaberCats)
Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion)
Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC)
Joe Johnston (New England Free Jacks)
Makeen Alikhan (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Christian Poidevin (San Diego Legion)
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC)
Benjamin Bonasso (Miami Sharks)
Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)
Tomas Casares (Miami Sharks)

Backs
Ruben De Haas (NOLA Gold)
JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves)
Connor Buckley (Old Glory DC)
Oscar Lennon (New England Free Jacks)
Ethan McVeigh (Old Glory DC)
AJ MacGinty (Bristol Bears)
Luke Carty (NOLA Gold)
Rand Santos (Univ. of California – Berkeley)
Tom Pittman** Flyhalf C’Chartres (FRA)
Chris Hilsenbeck (Chicago Hounds)
Dominic Akina (Houston SaberCats)
Bryce Campbell (Chicago Hounds)
Junior Gafa (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Dominic Besag (Saint Mary’s College)
Tavite Lopeti (San Diego Legion)
Mark O’Keeffe (Chicago Hounds)
Erich Storti (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Mika Kruse (Seattle Seawolves)
Nate Augspurger (Chicago Hounds)
Ryan James (San Diego Legion)
Malacchi Esdale (Seattle Seawolves)
Conner Mooneyham (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds)
Rufus Mclean (Houston SaberCats)
Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves)
Christian Dyer (RFCLA)
Mitch Wilson (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Toby Fricker (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
Max Schumacher (Houston SaberCats)
Steffan Crimp (Cardiff Met. University)
Corbin Smith (Hartpury College)