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USA 7s head coach Al Caravelli has finalised his sqaud for the World Games to be played next weekend (July 24-25th) in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei.

Caravelli has picked three players who have never played for the USA 7s team before, with one of those being Leonard Peters who previously enjoyed plenty of success playing American Football at the University of Hawaii, pushing for an NFL spot. He has been playing 7s with Aspen but is still a work in progress.

“Leonard has such speed and explosiveness, he is really impressive. In addition, his professionalism and how he fits in with the team chemistry is outstanding,” said Caravelli.

In addition to Leonard, Ata Malifa and Colin Hawley are the newcomers to the squad. Malifa and Hawley have USA experience with the XVs team, and Malifa’s twin brother Nese has been a USA 7s stalwart for several years.

The squad does boast some experience though with the highly rated Jone Naqica – USA 7s most prolific scorer –, PJ Komongnan, Jason Pye, and newly installed captain Thretton Palamo all included. Palamo, still only 21, has readily impressed Caravelli.

“He has shown so much leadership. That was obvious in London and Edinburgh. He came into camp fitter and faster then he’s ever been,” said Caravelli.

The remaining five players in the squad only have one or two tournaments under their belts with Blaine Scully, Steve St. Pierre, Marco Barnard, Tai Enosa and Corey Blair making up the squad

The coach said St. Pierre, who was a revelation in the UK tournaments, was the most improved player in camp.

“He and Blaine Scully have improved a great deal,” Caravelli said.

“But a lot of players improved. I look at players like Alex Ross, Dustin Muhn, Richard Herbert and Brendan O’Meara, who didn’t make this squad, and I say 'watch out next time'. They were all banging on the door. Alex Ross not making this team should be a wakeup call to everyone.”

Ross played for the USA team in London and Edinburgh and did well. Justin Boyd, Pete Dahl and Clint Whittler all missed out too due to injury.

Several of the young players have already emerged as capable of taking the game by the horns. Barnard was excellent in Scotland, for example, and the return of Pye is big for the USA, especially in the absence of Boyd.

“Having Jason Pye back is really great,” Caravelli said of the former Utah All American.

Pye is one of the older players in the squad, but his college background is quickly becoming the norm. Scully, St. Pierre, Barnard, Komongnan and Hawley all came from the college ranks.

USA will kick off their campaign against Portugal, who will be looking to put their recent disappointing result at the FIRA championships behind them, before facing hosts Chinese Taipei and South Africa.