The Fijian Drua’s success in the Super Rugby Pacific competition is now being emulated by World Rugby as part of its initiative to enhance rugby standards in the United States. Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks and Manu Samoa star center, is leading this effort as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team, which is set to compete against the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, with the match scheduled to kick off at 10:05 PM.
Ieremia has also assumed the role of head coach for the Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise in the American Major League Rugby (MLR) competition. This team was announced earlier this year in partnership with World Rugby, which is providing partial funding to help establish the club in Charlotte.
“I am dedicated to creating pathways for American players and those eligible to ultimately contribute to the Eagles,” stated Ieremia, who previously coached the Hurricanes and Manu Samoa. He emphasizes his commitment to developing academy players.
The new team aims to focus on nurturing young American talent using the Fijian Drua model as a blueprint for success in Super Rugby. World Rugby has expressed optimism that this initiative will significantly advance the USA men’s national team’s long-term goals, especially in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia and the 2031 tournament on home soil.
In preparation for their upcoming responsibilities, USA Rugby is also conducting a global recruitment campaign to attract eligible American players. Ieremia has already reached out to several players based in New Zealand who meet the eligibility criteria to represent the Eagles in the future.
“We’re actively searching for American descendants who are interested,” Ieremia noted. However, Scott Lawrence, the head coach of the USA Eagles, clarified that while they are considering this type of player recruitment, it remains in the developmental phase.
“We seek players who genuinely want to represent the USA,” Lawrence remarked, emphasizing the commitment required to play for the national team.
After failing to qualify for the previous World Cup in France, the focus now shifts to 2027 and 2031, with an aspiration to reach the quarter-finals in the next World Cup. Lawrence drew parallels to the historic assertion made by former President John F. Kennedy about landing on the moon, stating, “In seven years, we will have a World Cup, and we will be in a quarter-final. That’s our moon shot, and we are determined to achieve it.”