Eagles' domestic stars on duty
United States Eagles head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has relied heavily on domestic players for the team that will face Saracens in a midweek tour match on Tuesday.
The Eagles square off at the Honourable Artillery Company in London with a Saracens side that is currently fourth in the English Premiership.
O'Sullivan named a side balanced with a large number of home-based players, with most of his European-based professionals still trickling back into the squad.
Eight domestic players, who live and compete in America, are starting for the Eagles on Tuesday.
Professional players unavailable for selection include Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Chris Wyles (Saracens) and John van der Giessen (Bath).
There will be a few developments and matchups that will be very interesting to watch.
The Tulievuka brothers will link in the centres for the first time in Eagles jerseys. Setareki Tulievuka gets his first start for the USA alongside his brother, Alipate. Seta has been in good form playing for Montpellier in the French Top 14, so it will be intriguing to watch the chemistry in midfield as the two talented brothers take the field together on Tuesday.
Scott Lavalla will match up with former England skipper and longtime English lock, Steve Borthwick.
Another interesting matchup will be at hooker. Chris Biller's opposite number is the feisty Springbok, Schalk Brits, so Biller will have some very enthusiastic opposition from Brits in the scrum.
Hayden Smith and Chris Wyles won't suit up for their club or country in Tuesday's clash. Both Smith and Wyles play professionally at Saracens and won't take part in the match.
Sixteen of the players named in the squad have come through the US age-grade program playing for the their country's Under-20, Collegiate All-Americans, or both.
There are 19 age-grade graduates on the touring squad who will wear the Eagles jersey, the highest honour in American rugby. Many age-graders increased their stock by playing in competitive collegiate programs, many of which will be included in the newly formed College Premier League, a competition aimed at raising the level of play at the collegiate level.
After the Saracens match, the Eagles will take on Portugal on Saturday, November 13, Scotland 'A' on November 19, and Georgia on November 27.
United States Eagles: 15 Colin Hawley (unattached), 14 Paul Emerick (Ulster), 13 Setareki Tulievuka (Montpellier), 12 Alipate Tulievuka (Old Puget Sound Beach), 11 Zachary Test (Loughborough University), 10 Nese Malifa (Glendale), 9 Mike Petri (Sale), 8 Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians, captain), 7 Inaki Basauri (L'aquila), 6 JJ Gagiano (Eastern Province Kings), 5 Samu Manoa (San Francisco Golden Gate), 4 Scott Lavalla (Dublin University), 3 Eric Fry (unattached), 2 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), 1 Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie).
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel (Life University), 17 Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93), 18 Louis Stanfill (Mogliano), 19 Todd Clever (Suntory), 20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham), 21 Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), 22 Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins).
Date: Tuesday, November 9
Venue: Honourable Artillery Company ground, London
Kick-off: 14.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts (England)