Hill facing daunting task

USA

THE United States return to the Championship for the first time in 13 years determined to prove they belong back among the game’s elite age-grade nations.

The Junior All-Americans have endured a long absence from the top tier since competing in the 2013 tournament, but the expansion of the championship from 12 to 16 teams has opened the door for their return to the biggest stage in junior rugby.

USA were involved in the inaugural tournament in 2008, finishing 16th and then 12th in 2013 but aside from those two editions, they have largely battled in the second-tier competitions. Signs of progress have emerged in recent years, though, after finishing seventh in the U20 Trophy in 2023, they improved significantly to finish runners-up to Scotland in 2024.

Head coach Johannes Gericke has selected a squad combining leading American collegiate players with an increasing number of overseas-based prospects.

The pack is led by powerful prop Oliver Kirk from Cal Berkeley, while captaincy responsibilities and much of the forward leadership fall on the shoulders of dynamic back-rower Liam Hill, who plays his rugby at Sydney University.

Pool C presents a daunting task. The USA face Argentina, Ireland and England, with all three opponents ranked among the strongest age-grade programmes in the world.