The Fijian Drua’s model of success in the Super Rugby Pacific is now being embraced by World Rugby as part of its efforts to enhance rugby standards in the United States. This initiative is spearheaded by Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks and Manu Samoa star, who is currently serving as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team. The team is set to compete against the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final scheduled for Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, with a kick-off at 10:05 PM.
Ieremia has also assumed the role of head coach at Anthem Rugby Carolina, a franchise in the American Major League Rugby (MLR) competition. The establishment of the team, which was announced earlier this year, is backed by World Rugby, which is providing partial funding to launch it in Charlotte.
“This push aims to develop pathways for American players and those eligible to eventually progress to the Eagles,” said Ieremia, a former head coach for the Hurricanes and Manu Samoa. He emphasized his commitment to nurturing academy players through this initiative.
The team is focused on cultivating young American talent following the Fijian Drua model utilized in Super Rugby. In a statement, World Rugby expressed that this new team will significantly advance the performance goals of the USA men’s national team, particularly in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, and the 2031 World Cup, which will be hosted on home soil.
“This type of partnership has shown success for Fiji, who reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2023 with the Drua’s establishment. We are excited about the potential of Anthem RC as a significant franchise within a broader vision for MLR,” the statement added.
To further prepare for hosting responsibilities, USA Rugby is also undertaking a global recruitment initiative aimed at eligible US players. Ieremia has already reached out to several players based in New Zealand who possess the necessary documentation to represent the Eagles in the future.
“We’re certainly extending our reach to say we’re here if you’re interested and have any American heritage,” Ieremia said. However, USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence highlighted that the effort to bring eligible players to the USA and prepare them for potential international appearances is still in the early developmental phase.
“We consider that type of player, yes, but they must have a genuine desire to play for the USA,” Lawrence noted. “It has to be about passion for the USA, not financial gain.”
Following their failure to qualify for last year’s World Cup in France, the focus is set on the upcoming tournaments in 2027 and 2031, the latter of which will be the first Rugby World Cup hosted on the American continent.
“In 1962, JFK stated we would go to the moon, and seven years later, we accomplished that. In seven years, we aim to reach the quarter-finals in the World Cup,” Lawrence remarked. “That’s our ambitious goal, and that’s what we’re striving to achieve.”