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.