Olympian included in USA squad

With the new year well under way, it means the IRB Sevens World Series is back in full swing. This February will make a stop in Las Vegas Nevada for the U.S.A. Sevens. USA head coach Al Caraveli has named his squads for the next two tournaments, and thanks to our sevens experts at UR7s.com have you covered for everything sevens. Also if you're in Las Vegas for USA Sevens, drop us a line.

The USA squad for the third and fourth of the IRB Sevens World Series in Wellington and Las Vegas has been revealed.

The team will also be heading to Fiji this week to participate at the International Sevens at Suva’s Rugby Festival.

The Eagles have already played this year participating at the Mar del Plata Sevens earlier in January.

Coach Al Caravelli welcomes back captain Kevin Swiryn to the squad, following his recovery from a long term injury. Swiryn was a key performer for the USA last season and adds some valuable experience to the young Eagles.

Another important returnee to the squad is Paul Emerick, who despite playing overseas for Parma in Italy, has been released for the three tournaments.

Mark Bokhoven and Loughborough University’s Zach Test, who both suffered nasty injuries at the Dubai Sevens and George Sevens respectively, have also been given the all-clear to return to the squad.

Crossover athlete

Another interesting newcomer to the Squad is Bennie Brazzell, a former Olympic track and field star and NFL wide receiver, who is new to rugby. Brazzell reached the final of the 400m hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens after a distinguished College career that saw him become a five-time track and field national champion and a 14 time All-American.

Brazzell was part of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals squad in 2006 making the injured reserve list. Leonard Peters, another former NFL player, is also included and has settled into the side since first making the team at the World Games in July.

The USA play Australia’s Western Force in Suva in the Pool stages and will also meet face the Army and the Police who qualified for the event with big wins in the this season’s Suva Sevens Series.

At the NZI Sevens in Wellington, the USA tackle England, Kenya, and Tonga in the pool stages. A week later they host the USA Sevens where they have been drawn against Fiji, South Africa and North American rivals Canada.

USA Squad for Suva/NZI Sevens/USA Sevens

Kevin Swiryn, Marco Barnard, Mark Bokhoven, Bennie Brazell, Nick Edwards. Dimitri Efthimiou, Paul Emerick, Matt Hawkins, Ata Malifa, Nese Malifa, Leonard Peters, Mile Pulu, Trevor Richards, Shalom Suniula, Zack Test.