Hodges returns to lead Eagles

USA captain Dave Hodges, now fully recovered from injury, will lead the Eagles in the World Cup next month Down Under.

Five other veterans of the 1999 World Cup will join Hodges in Australia after being named in the squad on Monday.

They are scrum half Kevin Dalzell, hooker Kirk Khasigian, No.8 Dan Lyle and locks Alec Parker and Luke Gross – the most capped USA player ever.

Several young players have forced their way into the squad with consistent performances in the 2003 campaign, including four forwards – Richard Liddington, Matt Wyatt, Gerhard Klerck, and 20-year old Todd Clever, who made their international debuts in last month’s Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires.

In all, 10 of the Eagles earned their first caps in the 2003 season.

“A full Test calendar this year has provided us with opportunities to evaluate and work with many players,” said head coach Tom Billups on Monday.

“This squad reflects a very thorough selection process.”

The squad includes only one uncapped player, Brigham Young University centre Salesi Sika, who impressed Billups with his two-try performance for the USA ‘A’ against Russia in July.

While the Pan American Championships allowed several players to secure their positions, the USA lost one player when flanker Conrad Hodgson tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament.

“We are saddened by Conrad’s injury,” Billip said. “His form this year has been remarkable.

“This team has been built around the principle that all players are responsible for the team’s performance. Conrad’s absence will have us call upon this philosophy once again.”

While most of the Eagles are part-time players, five members of the US squad, Gross, Hodges, Jason Keyter, Richard Liddington, and Lyle, play professionally in Europe.

Meanwhile, three members of the squad, Clever, Mike MacDonald and Sika, are college students.

The selection also reflects versatility with forwards, Hodges, Parker, and John Tarpoff all capable of playing in more than one position.

The Eagles will assemble in Berkeley, California, on September 26 and leave for Brisbane three days later. The United States has been drawn in Pool B with Fiji, Scotland, Japan, and France.

The USA squad:

Forwards: Todd Clever (University of Nevada, Reno), Dan Dorsey (unaffiliated), Oloseti Fifita (Hayward Griffins), Jurie Gouws (Santa Monica), Luke Gross (Rotherham), David Hodges (Llanelli), Kirk Khasigian (Belmont Shore), Gerhard Klerck (Gentlemen of Aspen), Richard Liddington (Exeter), Dan Lyle (Leicester), Mike MacDonald (University of California, Berkeley), Alec Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen), Kort Schubert (Olympic), John Tarpoff (OMBAC), Jacob Waasdorp (Trinity College), Matt Wyatt (OMBAC).

Backs: John Buchholz (Olympic), Kain Cross (Santa Monica), Kevin Dalzell (OMBAC), Phillip Eloff (Chicago Lions), Paul Emerick (Chicago Lions), David Fee (Chicago Lions), Mike Hercus (Belmont Shore), Jason Keyter (Rotherham), Kimball Kjar (Brigham Young University), Matt Sherman (University of California, Berkeley), Salesi Sika (Brigham Young University), Mose Timoteo (Golden Gate), Riaan Van Zyl (Old Puget Sound), Link Wilfley (unaffiliated).