USA Rugby Eagles Update Summer 2026

USA Rugby Update USA Rugby Eagles had a horrendous few years when they did not qualify for the Rugby World Cup in 2023. 2024: In January 2024, Scott Lawrence was officially appointed Head Coach of the USA Men’s Eagles and General Manager of the USA Men’s XVs programs. During the 2024 season, Lawrence led his side to fourth place in the 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, and an unbeaten autumn European tour for the first time since 2013; with wins over Portugal, Tonga (their first over the nation since 1999), and Spain. 2024 Nov 9 Portugal W, 21-17 USA Nov 16 Tonga W, 36-17 USA Nov 23 Spain W, 26-23 USA 2025: Rugby World Cup qualification: 2025 (3-6) July 5th USA 15 W, 36-17 Belgium Test Charlotte, NC Am Legion Stadium July 12 USA 15 L, 20-31 Spain Test Charlotte, NC Am Legion Stadium July 19 USA 15 L, 5-40 England Test Audi Field Sept Canada 24 L, 34-20 USA 15 Pacific Nations Cup Group Sept USA 18 L, 47-21 Japan 13 Pacific Nations Cup Group Sept USA 18 W, 29-13 Samoa 5th place match. World Cup Qualification November Test Matches. Nov1 Scotland #6 L, 85-0 USA 15 Murrayfield, Scotland (USA 1W-6L) Nov 8 Georgia #13 L, 43-30 USA Batumi (USA 3W- 4 L) Nov 14 Romania W, 18-26 USA Bucharest Belgium USA 8W 3L Lawrence and the Eagles headed into 2025 on a bright note. The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup would be hosted in the USA. Also the qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup was rearranged. USA and Canada would mixed in with the Pacific Nations of Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa - USA and Canada. There would be 5 World Cup spots for the 6 nations. Sounds easy but Japan and Fiji had already auto qualified- which left 3 spots for the 4 remaining nations. The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup would determine the spots. The good news USA beat Samoa for 5th place for the last spot and qualified for the Rugby World Cup. The enormous 2025 mission was accomplished. The Rugby Eagles then tested themselves and got annihilated in Scotland 85-0. Lawrence was incorporating new players for the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cup. This loss still put a damper on expectations. The USA then played old foe Georgia and lost in Georgia 43-30. This now gives Georgia a 4W 3L overall to the USA. The USA badly needed a win and beat Romania 26-18 in Bucharest after losing 6 games this year. The Romania win gave the USA only 3 wins on the year. 3-6. The USA Rugby Eagles ended the 2025 season ranked 16. The Rugby Eagles are not a Top 12 or high performance nation in Rugby. The Eagles are clearly Tier 2. Tier 2 Rugby has gotten a lot more competitive and expansive. The Tier 2 nations have more than doubled in the last decade and more nations are improving at a high rate. July 4 Portugal #14 W, 30-29 USA 16 (H) July 11 Zimbabwe 25 W, 31-15 #14 USA H July 19 #16 Spain #14 USA H Aug 15 Argentina XV USA H Sep 12 Japan H USA Fiji\Canada USA Oct 24 Australia A USA H Oct 30 Australia A USA H Nov 7 Hong Kong H usa Nov 14 Romania H USA Nov 21 Georgia H USA 2026: Nations Cup and Pacific Cup. The 2026 would be a fun year for the Eagles. They have qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2027 -Australia so there is no desperate pressure. The Rugby Eagles have 2 tournaments and 11 games in all in 2026. These games will tell Lawrence which younger players are ready for the World Cup. The big tournament is the inaugural Nations League Cup with all Tier 2 nations. These Nations are ranked 13 - 25. The 6 games are 3 home and 3 away. I believe this is an excellent idea to have evenly matched nations play in this event. The USA and other teams will not be blown out 85-0 by a Tier 1 nation like Scotland. The other tournament is the Pacific Nations Cup that will only feature Fiji, Japan, USA and Canada. It will be a 4 team knockout bracket. The USA will play a Tier 1 nation in Japan and either play Fiji or Canada. Again this is perfect for my Rugby Eagles. Since they get to test themselves against Tier 1 teams - aka Japan. If they beat Japan they get to play another Tier 1 nation in Fiji. If the Eagles lose to Japan they still have their rivals Canada to play for 3rd place. Playing Canada every year is essential and glad there is an opportunity to play that tough team from the North in a meaningful game. The USA also schedules 3 other games against Argentina XV and 2 games against Australia A. Both these nations are in Tier 1 but these players are players trying to make the top team. The USA will also be trying new players and trying to have the team gel just like Argentina and Australia. I also think this is a good idea- IT becomes a bad idea if the game is not competitive. In the Rugby World Cups, the USA has not fared well. The USA will only be favorites to win 1 game. S0 I want to enjoy 2026 and the build up. 2026 should be a good year. We as fans can look forward to playing other nations and hoping to get a string of victories. Well that is Lawrences and my hope.

 

USA Rugby Schedule 2025, 2026 2027

2025 (3-6)
July 5	USA 15	W, 36-17	Belgium	Test Charlotte, NC  Am Legion Stadium
July 12	USA 15	L, 20-31	Spain	Test Charlotte, NC  Am Legion Stadium
July 19	USA 15	L, 5-40	England	Test Audi Field
Sept	Canada 24	L, 34-20	USA 15	Pacific Nations Cup Group
Sept	USA 18	L, 47-21	Japan 13	Pacific Nations Cup Group
Sept	USA 18	W, 29-13	Samoa	5th place match. World Cup Qualification
November Test Matches.
Nov1	Scotland #6	L, 85-0	USA 15	Murrayfield, Scotland (USA 1W-6L)
Nov 8	Georgia #13	L, 43-30	USA	Batumi (USA 3W- 4 L)
N 14	Romania	W, 18-26	USA	Bucharest Belgium USA 8W 3L
2026 (2-0)
July 4	Portugal #14	W, 30-29	USA 16 (H)	Nations League Cup: Denver 10,500
July 11	Zimbabwe 25	W, 31-15	USA H #14	Nations League Cup  North
July 19	Spain #16		USA H	Nations League Cup
Au 15	Argentina XV		USA H	Test inter Miami Stadium
Sep 12	Japan H		USA	Pacific Nations cup
	Fiji\Canada		USA	Pacific Nations Cup
Oct 24	Australia A		USA H	Test Geodis Park
Oct 30	Australia A		USA H	Test Sports Illustrated Stadium
Nov 7	Hong Kong H		USA	Nations League Cup
Nov14	Romania H		USA	Nations League Cup
Nov21	Georgia H		USA	Nations League Cup
2027
Oct 2	France		USA	World Cup Australia
Oct 9	Samoa		USA	World Cup Australia
Oct 15	Japan		USA	World Cup Australia

Scott Lawrence trying new players in the 2026 Nations Cup

 USA Rugby Eagles 

2026 World Rugby  Nations Cup

New players for the Rugby Eagles: 

2026 World Rugby Nations Cup
July 4	#14 Portugal	W, 30-29	#16 USA  (H)
July 11	Zimbabwe 25	W,31-15	#14 USA H
July 19	#16 Spain		#14 USA H
Nov 7	Hong Kong H		USA
Nov 14	Romania H		USA
Nov 21	Georgia H		USA

  The Rugby Eagles are trying to build for both the 2026 Rugby Nations Cup, 2027 Rugby World Cup and the 2031 Rugby World Cup - hosted in the USA. To do this Scott Lawrence the coach has to incorporate new and younger players onto the team. This effects the flow of the team in a negative way.  

To do this new younger players have to be incorporated into the team to see if they can “make the team’.  We have 6 brand new players set for their debuts in the Nations Cup.  John Rizzo, Julian Roberts, Lance Williams, Ma’ake Muti, Mason Pedersen and Perry Mayo are the uncapped prospects selected. Scott Lawrence only has 11 games to see players play before the World Cup. The Tier 1 nations have many players with multiple games played - unlike the USA. 

Week 1:  Portugal 29-30 USA:

The #16 ranked USA beat #14 Portugal. The impressive part was that Lawrence had four players set to debut for the Eagles – Chicago Hounds lock Nathan Den Hoedt and Nevers wing Perry Mayo get the start while Seattle Seawolves prop Mason Pedersen and Anthem utility back Julian Roberts started on the bench. So 4 new players were incorporated into the Rugby Eagles and the Eagles beat a higher ranked nation. That is impressive. This was a great victory to leapfrog 2 spots up the ranking. It was also impressive since new players were incorporated into the team. It is hard to gel when you have new players. 

Week 2  USA v Zimbabwe 

Lawrence will have a very inexperienced side again. Lawrence will keep Hoedt and Mayo for their second USA cap games. Peterson and Roberts will again be on bench. Lawrence again will have a debut starting for the Eagles in Lance Williams. William is a former NE Patriot Linebacker at 6’2 is also a former Rugby 7 player. So he has speed and can tackle. ”Lance Williams getting a test debut. The USA built a 12-0 lead only to let it evaporate and be down going into half time 15-12. The Eagles didn't help themselves - when they got a yellow card. 

This was the opposite of the Portugal game —where the eagles had to climb out of the hole. Lawrence made changes to a few battered Eagles and the fresh players showed the energy to now wean down Zimbabwe. The score was extremely close but the Eagles scored near end of game to not indicate this close contest. USA 31-15. 

Week 3:  USA vs Spain

The USA is 2-1 all time v Spain. The Eagles last eh last contest against Spain and the game was played in the states last year. Spain thinks they have caught up to the Eagles in Rugby. 

USA Rugby Eagles vs Spain World Rugby Nations Cup

 United States vs  Spain:

This is the 3rd of 6 games for each nations in the World Rugby Nations Cup.  

The Nations Cup brings 12 Tier 2 level nations ranked (13-25). This is an excellent idea to level the playing field and build competition. 

USA Opponents are Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain for the Summer mathces. Romania, Hong Kong and Georgia for the Fall matches).  USA beat Portugal 30-29, USA beat Zimbabwe 31-15. USA are 2-0. Spain tied Canada 42-42 and Spain soundly beat Tonga 32-19. Tonga had previously pounded Hong Kong 66-19. 

The USA is 2-1 all time v Spain. However Spain won the last macth 30-21 last July 2025. The last game was also in North Carolina- So Spain won a very important away game against a higher ranked opponent. So Spain if for real. 

Spain is 2-1-2 in last 5 while the USA is slightly better with a 3-2 record. Both lost to Georgia  away- Spain lost 42-30 while the USA lost 43-30. Almost identical  scores. Both nations beat Romania. Spain lost to 26-7 to Portugal playing in Portugal. The USA (H) playing in Denver edeged the visiting Portugal 30-29. So as you can see these teams are almost identically matched- with a slight edge going to who ever pays at home.  I see Portugal, Spain, 

The Nations Cup will continue in November in Europe
USA vs Romania       @ Romania
USa Vs Hong Kong   @ England
USA vs Georgia         @ Georgia