The Fijian Drua’s participation model in the Super Rugby Pacific competition is now being embraced by World Rugby as part of its effort 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, who serves as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team. The team is set to face the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final in Tokyo, Japan, this Saturday, with the match starting at 10:05 PM.
Ieremia has recently taken on the role of head coach for the Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise club in the American Major League Rugby (MLR) competition. This team was established earlier this year in partnership with World Rugby, which is providing partial funding to help launch the team in Charlotte.
Ieremia expressed his commitment to creating pathways for American players, stating, “It’s a push to really drive pathways for American players and eligible players to then lead on to the Eagles.” He emphasized his enthusiasm for developing academy players and noted that the team will focus on nurturing young American talent using the Fijian Drua model as a guide.
World Rugby announced that the new team would significantly contribute to the high-performance objectives of the USA men’s national team, particularly in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia and the 2031 event, which will be hosted in the USA. The organization highlighted the success of Fiji in the Rugby World Cup 2023, which showcased the effectiveness of establishing successful partnerships like the one with Anthem Rugby Carolina.
To enhance their preparations for hosting the World Cup, USA Rugby is also launching a global recruitment initiative targeting eligible players. Ieremia has reached out to several New Zealand-based players who meet the necessary criteria to play for the USA in the future. He stated, “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 process of integrating eligible players into the USA setup remains in its early stages, according to USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence. He acknowledged the pursuit of such players while stressing the importance of their genuine desire to represent the USA, noting, “They have to really want to do it, especially when they want to play for the USA which is an affair of the heart, not the wallet.”
Following their unsuccessful qualification for the last World Cup held in France, the focus now shifts to 2027 and 2031, as the USA prepares to host the Rugby World Cup for the first time on American soil. Lawrence drew inspiration from former President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 moon landing speech, saying, “That’s our moon shot, that’s what we’re going to do.”