The Fijian Drua’s success in the Super Rugby Pacific competition has become a model for World Rugby as it seeks to enhance the quality of rugby in the United States. Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks and Manu Samoa star center, is spearheading this initiative while serving as the back and attack coach for the USA national rugby team, which is set to face the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, starting at 10:05 PM.
Ieremia has recently taken the role of head coach for the Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise in the American Major League Rugby (MLR). This team, introduced earlier this year in partnership with World Rugby, is receiving partial funding to establish itself in Charlotte.
“We’re working to create pathways for American players and those eligible to progress to the Eagles,” stated Ieremia, who previously coached the Hurricanes and Manu Samoa. He emphasized his commitment to nurturing academy players and noted that the team will focus on developing young American talent following the Fijian Drua model.
World Rugby indicated that this new franchise will significantly support the long-term ambitions of the USA men’s national team, aiming for qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and hosting the 2031 World Cup. They highlighted that this partnership has previously benefited Fiji with the establishment of the Drua and expressed optimism about Anthem RC’s potential as both a pathway and a significant franchise for long-term MLR success.
Additionally, USA Rugby is actively recruiting eligible American players as part of its preparation for hosting duties. Ieremia has reached out to several New Zealand-based players who meet the eligibility criteria to represent the Eagles.
“We’re definitely expanding our search and inviting those with American heritage to join us,” said Ieremia. However, USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence pointed out that it is still early in the process of integrating eligible players into the team.
“While we are considering these players, they must have a genuine desire to play for the USA,” remarked Lawrence. “It’s a commitment driven by passion, not financial incentives.”
After missing out on qualification for last year’s World Cup in France, the focus is now firmly set on the 2027 and 2031 tournaments, where the USA will host the World Cup for the first time on American soil.
“Back in 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed we would go to the moon, and seven years later, we accomplished that. Seven years from now, we aim to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup—that’s our goal,” Lawrence declared.