The Fijian Drua’s success in the Super Rugby Pacific competition is now being used as a model by World Rugby to enhance the standard of rugby in the United States. Leading this initiative is Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks and Manu Samoa star center.
Ieremia currently serves as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team, which will compete against the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final in Tokyo on Saturday, starting at 10:05 PM. Additionally, Ieremia has taken on the role of head coach for the Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise in the American Major League Rugby (MLR).
This team was announced earlier this year through a collaboration with World Rugby, which is providing partial funding to establish the franchise in Charlotte. Ieremia stated, “It’s a push to really drive pathways for American players and eligible players to then lead on to the Eagles,” highlighting his commitment to developing young talent.
He emphasized that the team will focus on nurturing American players, inspired by the Fijian Drua model in Super Rugby. World Rugby mentioned in a statement that this new team will significantly enhance the USA men’s national team’s performance and support their long-term goals, particularly in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and the 2031 tournament, which will be hosted on American soil.
Alongside establishing the franchise, USA Rugby is initiating a global recruitment effort to find eligible US players. Ieremia has reached out to several players based in New Zealand who possess the necessary documentation to play for the Eagles in the future, stating, “We’re definitely casting the net to say, hey we’re out here now if you’re keen and have any American blood.”
However, the development of these eligible players is still in the early stages, according to USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence. “Do we look at that type of player? Yes, but they have to have a strong desire to play for the USA,” Lawrence stated, emphasizing that representing the USA is a matter of passion rather than financial motivation.
After not qualifying for the last year’s World Cup in France, the focus is now on the 2027 and 2031 tournaments, particularly the latter when the USA will host the event for the first time. “In 1962, JFK said we’d go to the moon, and seven years later we did that. Seven years from now, we have a World Cup, and we will be in a quarter-final. That’s our moon shot, that’s what we’re going to do,” Lawrence added.