Futi, Smith Called Up To USA Eagles
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Seawolves wing Ina Futi (left) and scrumhalf JP Smith (right) have both made the USA roster for 2025 summer international play. Credit: Seattle Seawolves. [/caption]
On June 17, 2025, the United States men’s national rugby union team – nicknamed the Eagles – announced their roster for this year’s summer competitions. There are two Seattle Seawolves among them - scrumhalf JP Smith and wing Ina Futi - both of whom have been capped in international play before.
The Eagles have three test matches coming up during the July test window: July 5 against Belgium, July 12 against Spain, and July 19 against England. The first two matches will be played in Charlotte, North Carolina, while the second will be played in DC.
After the test matches, the US team will compete in the Pacific Nations Cup in late August and early September, alongside Canada and Japan in Pool B (Pool A consists of Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji). The competition offers a 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifying pathway for the Tonga, Samoa, Canada, and USA teams – Japan and Fiji have already qualified – as the top three among those will receive placements in the Rugby World Cup.
Ina Futi has seen test caps as well as one appearance in a 2023 game during the La Vila International Rugby Cup, where he scored a try in Team USA’s 48-3 victory over Brazil. This is also JP Smith’s second year with the USA Eagles, as he played in 223 minutes across four caps during the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup in addition to appearing in that year’s test matches.
USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence specifically noted Futi as someone that could be a difference-maker on the team.
“Looking at the outside backs, one of the objectives we wanted to do was increase the team’s speed,” Lawrence said. “I’m really excited about having Ina Futi back … he was out last year, he’s worked his way back into this squad, and he’s playing really well. He’s starting to really grow his game.”
Seawolves lock CC Mahoni, who has been capped with the Eagles in multiple previous years, was not selected for this year’s summer matches. Given that he only played 263 minutes this season, Lawrence may have been unsure about playing him this year.
“The bare minimum is minutes, so we can see them, that’s where some of the data comes in,” Lawrence said. “We need guys to be playing minutes.”
Of the 32 players who were selected for the 2025 summer roster, all but four are MLR players, with five Anthem players, five Legion, four SaberCats, four Old Glory DC players, three Hounds, two Sharks, one Warrior, one NOLA Gold player, and one Free Jack in addition to the two aforementioned Seawolves. The full roster is below:
Ezekiel Lindenmuth – Prop, Houston SaberCats
Jack Iscaro – Prop, Old Glory DC
Pono Davis – Prop, Houston SaberCats
Payton Telea – Prop, San Diego Legion
Tonga Kofe – Prop, Utah Warriors
Kaleb Geiger – Prop/Hooker, New England Free Jacks
Kapeli Pifeleti – Hooker, Provence (Pro D2, France)
Shilo Klein – Hooker, San Diego Legion
Sam Golla – Lock, Anthem Rugby Carolina
Tevita Naqali – Lock, Old Glory DC
Marno Redelinghuys – Lock, Houston SaberCats
Vili Helu – Lock/Flanker, San Diego Legion
Makeen Alikhan – Flanker, Anthem Rugby Carolina
Cory Daniel – Flanker, Old Glory DC
Christian Poidevin – Flanker, San Diego Legion
Ben Bonasso – Flanker/Eightman, Miami Sharks
Thomas Casares – Flanker/Eightman, Miami Sharks
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz – Flanker/Eightman, Old Glory DC
Ruben de Haas – Scrumhalf, NOLA Gold
JP Smith – Scrumhalf, Seattle Seawolves
Chris Hilsenbeck – Flyhalf, Chicago Hounds
AJ MacGinty – Flyhalf, Bristol Bears (Premiership Rugby, England)
Tom Pittman – Flyhalf/Center, Chartres (Fédérale 1, France)
Dom Besag – Center, Saint Mary’s Gaels (NCAA DI, United States)
Tavite Lopeti – Center, San Diego Legion
Erich Storti – Center, Anthem Rugby Carolina
Nate Augspurger – Wing, Chicago Hounds
Noah Brown – Wing, Chicago Hounds
Ina Futi – Wing, Seattle Seawolves
Toby Fricker – Wing/Fullback, Anthem Rugby Carolina
Rufus McLean – Wing/Fullback, Houston SaberCats
Mitch Wilson – Wing/Fullback, Anthem Rugby Carolina
