The Fijian Drua’s successful participation in the Super Rugby Pacific competition has inspired World Rugby to implement a similar model to enhance the standard of rugby in the United States. Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks and Manu Samoa star centre, is leading this initiative as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team, which will face the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday at 10:05 PM.
Ieremia has been appointed as the head coach of the Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise in the American Major League Rugby (MLR) competition. This franchise, announced earlier this year in collaboration with World Rugby, is receiving partial funding to establish itself in Charlotte.
Ieremia emphasized the goal of creating pathways for American and eligible players to advance to the national team, the Eagles. He expressed passion for nurturing academy players and aims to replicate the Fijian Drua’s development approach for young American talents.
World Rugby stated that this new team will significantly support the USA men’s national team’s long-term objectives, particularly in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and the 2031 tournament to be hosted on American soil. The partnership has already shown success with the Fijian Drua, and World Rugby anticipates similar potential for Anthem RC as a vital franchise for MLR growth.
In addition to establishing the new franchise, USA Rugby is initiating a global recruitment campaign to attract eligible US players. Ieremia has reached out to several players in New Zealand who meet the requirements to represent the Eagles in the future. He encouraged those with ties to America to consider joining.
However, USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence noted that the process of integrating eligible players is still developing. He stressed that prospective players must have a genuine desire to represent the USA, highlighting that playing for the national team should be motivated by passion rather than financial incentives.
After missing out on qualifying for the World Cup in France last year, the focus is now on the upcoming 2027 and 2031 tournaments, including the historic first World Cup on American soil. Lawrence expressed optimism about this goal, comparing it to John F. Kennedy’s vision of reaching the moon. He stated, “In seven years from now, we will be in a quarter-final. That’s our moon shot, that’s what we’re going to do.”