USA Falls to Harlequins, Gears up for World Cup

It was a beautiful day for rugby over the weekend at PPL Park as London's legendary Harlequin F.C. came to town to play the USA Eagles. 

For the Eagles, the exhibition match was a warm-up to their 2015 World Cup run, which kicks off vs Samoa on Sept. 20. For Philly-area fans, it was a chance to tailgate and soak in some great rugby.

The game was a defensive clinic, with both sides grudgingly giving up ground under a blazing Pennsylvania sun as crowds chanted and container ships slid past on the Delaware River. 

Much of the first half of this 15-a-side contest was owned by the US team, which jumped out to an 11-0 lead before the Harlequins answered with two of their own (helped by penalties) to make it 14-11 at the half. 

The Quins pulled away in the second half, though team USA kept it close with another try. The final was Harlequins 24-USA 19. 

The Eagles' next contest is against Australia Sept. 5 in Chicago. 

World Cup Squad Announced

The USA Eagles have announced their 2015 World Cup squad. Listed below are the 31 players traveling as part of the team, with their respective college/club affiliations. 

World Cup Pool B play takes the USA to Britain to face Samoa (Sept. 20, 7am ET), Scotland (Sept. 27, 9:30am ET), South Africa (Oct. 7, noon ET) and Japan (Oct. 11, 3pm ET). 

Each of the team's four pool matches will be broadcast live on Universal Sports.

Men's Eagles | Rugby World Cup 2015 

Danny Barrett - Men's Eagles Sevens 
Chris Baumann - Santa Monica RC 
Cameron Dolan - Cardiff Blues (Wales) 
Andrew Durutalo - Men's Eagles Sevens 
Zach Fenoglio - Glendale Raptors RFC 
Eric Fry - Newcastle Falcons (England) 
Seamus Kelly - San Francisco Golden Gate RFC 
Olive Kilifi - Seattle Saracens RC 
Niku Kruger - Glendale Raptors RFC 
Titi Lamositele - Saracens FC (England) 
Scott LaValla - Stade Francais CASG (France) 
AJ MacGinty - Life Rugby 
Samu Manoa - RC Toulonnais (France) 
Al McFarland - NYAC 
Matekitonga Moeakiola - Castenet (France) 
Takudzwa Ngwenya - Biarritz Olympique (France) 
Folau Niua - Men's Eagles Sevens 
Thretton Palamo - London Welsh RFC (England) 
Greg Peterson - Glasgow Warriors (Scotland) 
Mike Petri - NYAC 
John Quill - NYAC 
Blaine Scully (Vice Captain) - Cardiff Blues (Wales) 
Hayden Smith - Saracens FC (England) 
Louis Stanfill - Seattle Saracens RC 
Andrew Suniula - CSM Bucuresti (Romania) 
Shalom Suniula - Seattle Saracens RC 
Joseph Taufete'e - Belmont Shore RFC 
Zack Test - Men's Eagles Sevens 
Phil Thiel - Life Rugby 
Brett Thompson - Men's Eagles Sevens 
Chris Wyles (Captain) - Saracens FC (England)