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Tomahawks Select For Game 2
The American National Rugby League has named an 18-man squad for the return leg of the Colonial Cup series against Canada.
The match will be played in Toronto on Saturday, September 17.
Several changes have been made to the lineup from Game 1, which was won 18-2 by the Tomahawks, in Philadelphia in August.
New to the group is Jayson Rego of the Hawaii Islanders. Rego, a former football player and teammate of Josh Rice at the University of Hawaii, is included in the squad after turning out for the Collegiate All-American Sevens team at last month’s Sevens National All-Star Championship.
The former UH Warriors running back has been converted to a rugby league outside back.
Also included in the squad for Game 2 are Curtis Cunz and Mike Tuala, who replace Game 1 starters Gareth Baxendale and Touanga Talakai. The Tomahawks again will be led by Apple Pope.
This will be the USA’s final hit-out before the crucial Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers in October when the Tomahawks will host Jamaica and the South Africa Rhinos. The winner of that round-robin series of games will earn the Atlantic Zone seed for the RLWC in England and Wales in 2013.
“We are looking forward to the return match against Canada in Toronto. We appreciate that it will be a difficult assignment playing them north of the border and we understand the challenge we are facing,” Tomahawks coach David Niu told WeAreRugby.
“Whilst it will be another step in the preparation process of the team and preparing for the tournament in October, we still have a clear focus of putting in a solid performance against the Wolverines. Each player will be significantly motivated to perform at their very best as we move toward the selection of the final Tomahawks squad for the RLWCQ.”
USA Tomahawks Squad for Colonial Cup Game 2:
Fitz-James Adams (New York Knights)
Justin Ripley (New York Knights)
Sean Taylor (New York Knights)
Ian Elliott (New York Knights)
Xavier Lozinguez (New York Knights)
Michael Garvey (Aston Bulls)
Louis Tulio (Aston Bulls)
Andrew Kneisly (Aston Bulls)
Alejandro Valentin (Aston Bulls)
Apple Pope (Florida)
Salesi Tongamoa (Connecticut Wildcats)
Curtis Cunz (Connecticut Wildcats)
Charlie Rizzo (Connecticut Wildcats)
Josh Rice (Hawaii Islanders)
Jayson Rego (Hawaii Islanders)
Kelly McGill (Maui Voyagers)
Mike Tuala (Maui Voyagers)
Leslie Alovili (Northern Raiders)
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