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USA Rugby Men’s Sevens Team Coach Al Caravelli has his squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens, March 5-7, in Dubai.

Building off momentum gained at the recent USA Sevens event in San Diego, the U.S. Men’s Sevens Team reconvened in Florida and has spent the last week in intensive training so that Caravelli and his staff could have one final look before naming the 12-man squad that will depart for Dubai tomorrow.

“The 12 selected to represent the USA in the World Cup are a very good mix of speed, power, experience and youth, with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and energy,” Caravelli said.

“There have been two changes made to the U.S. squad since San Diego, in order to make room for Takudzwa Ngwenya and Todd Clever,” he added. “Taku and Todd bring a lot of experience with them that will help our younger players.”

Ngwenya has been with the team since Caravelli first started to build the program in the summer of 2006. He then went on to play in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, scoring the Try of the Tournament infamously rounding Bryan Habana.

Clever, of course, has also been an established member of the U.S. Sevens Team, playing in two Rugby World Cups and looking to mark his second World Cup Sevens appearance in Dubai.

Ngwenya and Clever are joined by USA Sevens teammates Justin Boyd, Paul Emerick, James Gillenwater, Matthew Hawkins, Valenese Malifa, Jone Naqica, Rikus Pretorius, Shalom Suniula, Kevin Swiryn and Chris Wyles.

Once at the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the U.S. will meet the likes of France, Georgia and defending RWC Sevens champions Fiji in Pool B competition. The U.S. heads into the tournament having already faced all three of its pool opponents in regular 2008-2009 IRB Sevens World Series competition – losing to France in the Bowl Semi Final in Dubai 22-12, shutting out Georgia 38-0 at the South Africa Sevens in December 2008, and recently upsetting Fiji 15-10 at the New Zealand Sevens in early February.

“We have a very tough pool at the World Cup with France, Fiji and Georgia. France beat us the last time around in Dubai. They are a very good squad that haven’t had a lot of bounces go there way. They are very skilful, fast and creative. Fiji are up next and they are the World Champions. We beat them last time, but as the saying goes, be ready when you poke the bear,” Caravelli said.

“Last is Georgia, we caught them on the last game in George, but the great thing about Sevens is that anyone on any given day can beat anyone and that is especially the case this year. The boys have prepared well in all aspects of there game. They, as I am, are very excited to see what they can do next week. We want to continue to build from our last tournament. But the World Cup is different than the series as several teams have strengthen their respective squads, so it will be tough to say the least. But we had a very tough pool in Wellington and again in San Diego and as the saying goes the tougher the job, the greater the reward.”
 

USA World Cup Sevens Squad Sevens:
Justin Boyd (Dallas), Todd Clever (Xerox Lions), Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma)
James Gillenwater (Belmont Shore), Matthew Hawkins (OMBAC), Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore), Jone Naqica (San Francisco Golden Gate ), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Rikus Pretorius (Olympic Club), Shalom Suniula (Pearl City Rugby Club). Kevin Swiryn (St. Mary’s), Chris Wyles (Saracens)