Coach Amor backs debutant as USA squads named for Hong Kong Sevens

Uluamu Niutupuivaha is the sole debutant across both USA squads for the upcoming HSBC SVNS Series events in Hong Kong China and Singapore, which rounds out the round-robin ahead of the winner-takes-all World Championship in Los Angeles.

With the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens moving to a new venue this season, Kai Tak Sports Park, a new era for the highly-anticipated event awaits. The tournament from March 28-30 is the fifth stop of the season, followed be Singapore a week later at the national stadium.

For the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens, this week’s competition is another opportunity to show signs of growth after a tough season to date. The Americans are currently second-last on the overall standings, which included a ninth-place finish last time out in Vancouver.

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Niutupuivaha has been named to debut and has been described by coach Simon Amor as a man with “the potential to be a fantastic sevens player.” Niutupuivaha came up through the USA Junior National team ranks before later playing a season in Major League Rugby.

62-tournament veteran Stephen Tomasin will lead an Eagles Sevens side that also includes vice-captains Faitala Talapusi and Lucas Lacamp. The Americans have been drawn in an extremely tough pool against Fiji, Ireland and Argentina.

“There’s a physical, mental and emotional load that comes in back to back tournaments. The guys are learning their potential, but realistically it’s only when you have the 55,000 people in Hong Kong cheering,” Amor said.

“You go through that game, the emotional, physical, and then, after that game, you’ve grown after you’ve experienced it. The good with our group is that we’re battling in these games, challenging the decision making and the execution and it continues to improve.

“We can see the guys are pushing themselves and realising what it takes.”

As for the women’s side, they’re taking this week’s event as an opportunity to make amends after an eighth-place finish in Vancouver. The Americans were beaten by traditional foe Canada in the seventh-place playoff at BC Place.

Olympian Sammy Sullivan and powerful ball-carrier Nia Toliver return as headline inclusions in this squad which also includes co-captains Kristie Kirshe and Alex ‘Spiff’ Sedrick. Sedrick scored the match-winner in the Olympic bronze final in Paris last year.

There are seven players with no more than five tournament caps to their name, those believe Toliver, Alyssa Porter, Hann Humphreys, Sariah Ibarra, Su Adegoke, Autumn LoCicero and Rachel Strasdas.

They’ll take on a Brazil side in their first match, who will be full of confidence after their heroics in Vancouver which included a shock win over Australia. The USA Eagles Women’s Sevens will also take on New Zealand and China.

“We were disappointed with our performance in Vancouver because we didn’t feel we fully optimised our potential as a group, missing key opportunities to not only return to the top four but also elevate our standing,” coach Emillie Bydwell reflected.

“Despite the outcome, it served as an important inflection point n this foundational year. While results are secondary at this stage, it’s critical that we continue to show progress and stay true to the habits and core principles we’ve been consistently training.

“Since returning to training, the team has been focused and committed to elevating, and ensuring we play the way we want to and meet the standards required to do so.

“We are excited for the opportunity in Hong Kong to test this growth and expect to take a significant step forward.”

USA Men’s Sevens roster Hong Kong China & Singapore SVNS

Aaron Cummings, Ben Broselle, Adam Channel, Will Chevalier, David Still III, Stephen Tomasin (c), Faitala Talapusi (vc), Lucas Lacamp (vc), Jack Wendling, Uluamu Niutupuivaha, Jake Broselle, Pita Vi, Marcus Tupuola

SCHEDULE

Friday

USA vs Fiji | 12:48am ET

USA vs Argentina | 4:21am ET

USA vs Ireland | 11:48am ET

Sat, Mar 29

Knockout rounds begin Sat, Mar 29 at 4:15am ET

USA Women’s Sevens roster Hong Kong China & Singapore SVNS

Ariana Ramsey, Kayla Canett, Alena Olsen, Kristi Kirshe (c), Rachel Strasdas, Spiff Sedrick (c), Autumn LoCicero, Sammy Sullivan, Su Adegoke, Sariah Ibarra, Hann Humphreys, Alyssa Porter, Nia Toliver

SCHEDULE

Friday

USA vs Brazil | 4:44am ET

USA vs New Zealand | 7:53am ET

Sat, Mar 29

USA vs China | 12:34am ET

Knockout rounds begin Sat, Mar 29 at 3:29am ET