USA Eagles October Series: What's at Stake vs Australia A, Italy and England
Five home tests in fourteen days across Texas, Tennessee and New Jersey. The Women's Eagles arrive on a three-game winning streak; the men need answers before Rugby World Cup 2027. Here's APR's analysis of what each game means.
The USA Eagles October series is the biggest run of home international rugby the United States has staged in years. Between October 17 and October 30, 2026, the Women's Eagles play Italy twice and England once, and the Men's Eagles play two tests against an Australia XV (Australia A) in doubleheaders in Nashville and New Jersey. For American fans it's a rare chance to see test rugby without a passport. For both national teams, it's a measuring stick with real consequences.
The two teams arrive in very different moods. The women are flying: they beat Ireland and Wales on the road in September and climbed to sixth in the world. The men are searching: four wins over the summer were followed by two defeats at the Pacific Nations Cup, including a 63–14 loss to Japan, one of their Rugby World Cup 2027 pool opponents. This is our breakdown of the fixtures, the form, the opponents and what American rugby should take from the next two weeks. For background on the wider landscape, see our guide to pro rugby in the USA.
- Women's Eagles: v Italy, Sat Oct 17 (Mansfield, TX); v Italy, Sat Oct 24 (Nashville, TN); v England, Fri Oct 30 (Harrison, NJ). Part of World Rugby's WXV Global Series.
- Men's Eagles: v Australia XV, Sat Oct 24 (Nashville) and Fri Oct 30 (Harrison, NJ). Preparation for Rugby World Cup 2027.
- Women's form: three straight wins for the first time since 2006, including 40–36 v Ireland and 26–24 v Wales. Ranked 6th in the world.
- Men's form: ranked 14th. Beat Portugal, Zimbabwe, Spain and Argentina XV this summer, then lost to Japan (63–14) and Canada (19–16).
- APR's take: the women can prove they belong in the world's top six; the men need a performance, not just a result, before the World Cup.
The October Series Fixtures
USA Rugby announced the series earlier this year together with TEG Rugby Live, which is staging the events. The women's matches are part of the WXV Global Series, World Rugby's new international window for the top 12 women's nations. The men's matches are uncapped XV games against an Australia A side, but with Wallabies in the squad, the quality will be test level. All times below are local, as published by USA Rugby.
| Date (2026) | Match | Venue | Kickoff (local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 17 | USA Women v Italy | Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, Mansfield, TX | 5:00 PM CT |
| Sat, Oct 24 | USA Women v Italy | GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN | 3:15 PM CT |
| Sat, Oct 24 | USA Men v Australia XV | GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN | 6:00 PM CT |
| Fri, Oct 30 | USA Women v England | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ | 5:15 PM ET |
| Fri, Oct 30 | USA Men v Australia XV | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ | 8:00 PM ET |
Two things stand out. First, the cities. Mansfield sits in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Nashville has never hosted an Eagles test of this profile, and Harrison is the same stadium that hosts the HSBC SVNS New York stop in March 2027. USA Rugby is clearly testing new markets ahead of the 2031 men's and 2033 women's Rugby World Cups on home soil. Second, the doubleheaders. Putting the women's and men's teams on the same bill gives fans two tests for one ticket and gives the women's game the bigger crowd it has earned.
APR's view: doubleheaders should become the norm, not the exception. They sell better, they build one national-team identity, and they treat the women's team as a headline act. We run every APR Games final on the same evening for the same reason, with the Youth, Women's Social and Men's Elite finals back to back on Memorial Day.
Women's Eagles: Riding a Three-Game Winning Streak
Few American teams have entered a home series with this much momentum. Head coach Jack Hanratty's side beat the Springbok Women in Pretoria in July, then opened the WXV Global Series with back-to-back away wins in September. According to RugbyPass, it is the first time the Eagles have won three games in a row since 2006.
| Date (2026) | Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4 | South Africa v USA | L 34–21 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Jul 11 | South Africa v USA | W 26–19 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| Sep 20 | Ireland v USA | W 40–36 | Tallaght Stadium, Dublin |
| Sep 26 | Wales v USA | W 26–24 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
The Ireland win was the bigger statement. The Eagles came back from 19 points down in the second half in Dublin, with Kathryn Treder scoring twice and Bella Vogel kicking well, to beat Ireland for the first time since 2018. The result lifted the USA two places to sixth in the World Rugby women's rankings, past Scotland and Italy. A week later in Cardiff, Freda Tafuna scored a hat-trick, her third try in the 52nd minute settling a 26–24 win after Wales had led 24–21 at half-time. The Eagles held Wales scoreless for the entire second half.
That second-half defense is the most encouraging trend. Wales scored four first-half tries; the Eagles then shut them out for forty minutes. Coming back from deficits on the road is the habit of a team that trusts its fitness and its structure. Tafuna credited the coaching staff after Cardiff, and Hanratty has said he wants the squad to "hold ourselves to world class standards both on and off the field." The results suggest the message is landing.
Who to watch
- Freda Tafuna: Player of the Match in both September wins and the try-scorer who decided Cardiff.
- Erica Jarrell-Searcy and Georgie Perris-Redding: co-captains for the WXV Global Series.
- Kayla Canett and Tahna Wilfley: sevens crossovers who bring pace out wide. Canett is an Olympian.
- Bella Vogel: the goal-kicker who converted every try in Cardiff. Tight games are won off the tee.
Italy twice, then England
Italy are the opponent the Eagles leapfrogged in the rankings, which makes the two-test mini-series in Texas and Tennessee a direct test of whether sixth place is deserved. The teams last met at WXV 2 in Cape Town in 2023. Winning both would almost certainly cement the USA's top-six standing heading into the second year of the WXV cycle, which feeds into qualification for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.
England are a different level. The Red Roses are the reigning world champions, and the last time these teams met, in the opening match of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England won comfortably in front of more than 42,000 fans. Nobody should expect the Eagles to be favorites in New Jersey. But a competitive scoreline, with the defensive discipline the Eagles showed in Cardiff, would be a real marker. Tafuna said after the Wales game that the team still has to prove it is a top-six side. Harrison is where the case gets tested.
Men's Eagles: A Mixed 2026 and Questions Before the World Cup
Scott Lawrence's men have had a season of two halves. The summer was close-run but positive: three narrow home Nations Cup wins and an uncapped one-point win over an Argentina XV in Fort Lauderdale. Then came the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan in September, where the gap to the next tier showed.
| Date (2026) | Match | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4 | USA v Portugal | W 30–29 | Nations Cup, Commerce City, CO |
| Jul 11 | USA v Zimbabwe | W 31–15 | Nations Cup |
| Jul 18 | USA v Spain | W 29–22 | Nations Cup, Cary, NC |
| Aug 15 | USA XV v Argentina XV | W 25–24 | Uncapped, Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Sep 12 | Japan v USA | L 63–14 | Pacific Nations Cup semifinal, Hanazono |
| Sep 19 | Canada v USA | L 19–16 | Pacific Nations Cup 3rd place, Tokyo |
The positives are real. Winning one-score games is a skill, and the Eagles won four of them. Against Argentina XV, flanker Marno Redelinghuys scored off a short ball from captain Jason Damm, openside Paddy Ryan made a game-high 17 tackles, and centre Tavite Lopeti made a match-saving tackle on the final attack. Fly-half Luke Carty has become the team's reliable goal-kicker.
The negatives are just as clear. A 49-point semifinal defeat to Japan, who went on to win the Pacific Nations Cup by beating Fiji 20–15 in the final, is the kind of result that matters when Japan is in your World Cup pool. And losing a third-place playoff to Canada, after coming back from 12–0 down to lead 13–12, stung. "I'm really disappointed," Damm said afterward. The USA sits 14th in the World Rugby rankings.
The World Cup clock is ticking
The Eagles are in Pool E at Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia: France in Melbourne on October 2, 2027, Samoa in Perth on October 9 and Japan in Adelaide on October 15. The expanded 24-team format sends the top two in each pool plus the four best third-placed teams into a Round of 16, which means a realistic target for the USA is to beat Samoa and finish third with enough points to advance.
That target has become harder. As Americas Rugby News reported on October 8, Samoa named a squad for its November tour that includes former All Blacks Akira Ioane and Shaun Stevenson and former Wallaby Irae Simone, who have switched allegiance under World Rugby's eligibility rules. Samoa will be considerably stronger in 2027 than its ranking suggests. For the Eagles, every high-quality game between now and next October is preparation for that one match in Perth.
Watching the Eagles? Come play in Vegas.
$299 per player includes your official APR Games team jersey, full kit bag, a minimum of three guaranteed pool games, opening-night access and a player profile on americanprorugby.com. 10s rugby, Memorial Day Weekend, May 29–31, 2027.
Scouting the Opposition: Australia A
Rugby Australia named a 27-man Australia A squad on October 11, with 16 forwards and 11 backs, coached by World Cup winner Stephen Larkham and selected jointly with the Wallabies staff. The squad leaves for the US on October 18. Rugby Australia says it includes twelve Wallabies, among them scrum-half Kalani Thomas, prop Zane Nonggorr, locks Miles Amatosero and Nick Frost, hookers Matt Faessler and Lachlan Lonergan, prop Tom Robertson and back-rower Luke Reimer. Faessler captains the side, as he did in a 71–7 win over a Japan XV in Osaka last year. Olympic sevens players Corey Toole and Lachlan Anderson add pace, and former Waratahs captain Eamon Doyle is in his first senior national squad.
Larkham called it a "testing Tour against genuine international opposition." For Australia, it's a development tour to build depth below the Wallabies. For the Eagles, it's two games against a professional, well-drilled side with test-level forwards, which is exactly what they need. The USA's last game against Australia came in a 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up at Soldier Field in Chicago, more than a decade ago.
Three things the Eagles must show
- A set piece that holds. Australia A's front five is full of Wallabies. If the Eagles' scrum and lineout survive two games against that pack, they can survive Samoa.
- Full-game defense. The Japan loss came from defensive breakdowns once the game opened up. The women's team showed in Cardiff what a second-half shutout looks like; the men need the same.
- Depth. Two games in six days is a chance to see who else can start. A World Cup pool demands at least 30 test-ready players.
APR's take: we'd rather see the Eagles lose a close, physical game in Nashville and fix it for New Jersey than win a loose one. The scoreboard in October 2026 matters less than the scrum count, the tackle completion and the minutes the bench gets. Those are the numbers that will decide Perth.
Why This Series Matters for American Rugby
Beyond the results, the October series is a test of the market. The US will host the men's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women's tournament in 2033, and USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren framed the series as a way to showcase the Eagles in new American cities. Crowds in Mansfield, Nashville and Harrison will tell World Rugby and potential host cities something about rugby demand outside the sport's traditional strongholds.
It also matters for the domestic game. Major League Rugby is down to five teams for 2027, and Women's Elite Rugby is in only its third season. National-team success has historically been the fastest way to grow participation and sponsorship in American rugby. A Women's Eagles team that wins at home on a Friday night in the New York area is a powerful advertisement for the sport. You can read more about how the pro leagues fit together in our USA pro rugby guide.
Clubs across the country can use these games, too. Watch parties are one of the easiest ways to recruit new players and keep existing ones engaged. If your club or bar wants a proper big-screen setup for game nights, our partner American LED Signage works on venue displays and signage.
How to Watch and Attend
Tickets for all three venues went on general sale in July through SI Tickets and the venues' own channels; check availability before you travel. The Nashville and Harrison doubleheaders are the best value, with two tests on one ticket.
- Go in person: Mansfield (Oct 17), Nashville (Oct 24) and Harrison, NJ (Oct 30). Arrive early for the women's game on doubleheader days.
- Watch on TV or streaming: World Rugby's agreement with CBS Sports made Paramount+ the US home of World Rugby through 2029. Check USA Rugby's channels and Paramount+ listings for confirmed coverage of each game, as broadcast details can change.
- Watch with your club: the Friday games in New Jersey kick off at 5:15 PM and 8:00 PM ET, which suits watch parties across the East Coast and the Central time zone.
- Follow the results: we'll cover what the series means for the Eagles and the World Cup on the APR news page.
Hosting a watch party and need team gifts or prizes for the raffle? Giftabiz has gift ideas for rugby fans and clubs, and the APR shop has jerseys and gear.
From the Eagles to the APR Games: The American Player Pathway
Every player in an Eagles jersey this month came through the same American system: youth and high school rugby, college programs, senior clubs, sevens and short-format tournaments, and then the pro leagues. That pathway is wider than it was ten years ago, but there are still far more capable players than professional roster spots. That's the gap the APR Games is built to help close.
The APR Games 2027 is a 10s rugby tournament in Las Vegas on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29–31, 2027: ten players a side, two 20-minute halves, evening kickoffs under the floodlights. There's $15,000 in prize money, with $10,000 for the Men's Elite division ($6,000 / $3,000 / $1,000) and $5,000 for the Women's Social division ($3,000 / $1,500 / $500), plus medals and trophies for Youth, who play age-appropriate formats with no entry fee. Five founding Las Vegas franchises (Vegas Kings, Vegas Knights, Vegas Blackjacks, Downtown Rugby and Vegas Lions) plus one mystery invitational team are already set. Meet the teams or read the complete APR Games 2027 guide.
The Women's Eagles' rise is exactly why we put real prize money in the women's division. The women's game in America is producing world-class players, and they deserve big-stage evenings at home. The divisions page has the details.
For coaches and players who want to sharpen up before the Games, the APR Coaching Clinic runs May 28–31, 2027 in Las Vegas. New to the sport after watching the Eagles? Start with our guide on how to start playing rugby as an adult. Players building fitness for a long season can look at athlete nutrition from our partner Clann13. And when you come to Vegas for the Games, Luna Appleton has guides on where to stay, eat and celebrate after the final. We've also written about why Las Vegas is the perfect home for pro rugby in America.
APR's Predictions
Predictions are opinion, not fact, so take these as our honest read of the form:
- USA Women v Italy (x2): the Eagles' recent form and home advantage make them slight favorites. We expect at least one win, and two would confirm their top-six place.
- USA Women v England: England are the clear favorites. Success for the Eagles is a competitive game and a strong final quarter.
- USA Men v Australia XV (x2): Australia A will start as favorites. Success for the Eagles is a stable set piece, defense that lasts the full game and a closer second game than the first.
Whatever happens, this is the most American rugby fans have had to watch at home in a single month in a long time. Go if you can, and bring someone who has never seen a test match.
The APR Games is made possible by our partners. Players and fans can support the people who support American rugby:
Thinking about the business side of sport in Las Vegas? In Too Win covers Las Vegas business and investment, and WXE is our energy partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the USA Eagles October 2026 games?
The Women's Eagles play Italy on October 17 in Mansfield, Texas, and October 24 in Nashville, then England on October 30 in Harrison, New Jersey. The Men's Eagles play an Australia XV on October 24 in Nashville and October 30 in Harrison.
Who are the USA men playing in October 2026?
The Men's Eagles play two games against an Australia XV, also called Australia A, coached by Stephen Larkham and captained by Matt Faessler. Rugby Australia says the 27-man squad includes twelve Wallabies.
Are the USA v Australia A games official test matches?
They are XV matches against Australia's second team rather than full tests against the Wallabies, so they are best described as uncapped internationals. With twelve Wallabies in the Australian squad, the quality of opposition is still very high.
How have the USA Women's Eagles done in the WXV Global Series?
Very well. They beat Ireland 40–36 in Dublin on September 20 and Wales 26–24 in Cardiff on September 26, 2026. Combined with a July win in South Africa, it was their first three-game winning streak since 2006, and they rose to sixth in the world rankings.
Who coaches the USA rugby teams?
Scott Lawrence is head coach of the Men's Eagles, and Jack Hanratty is head coach of the Women's Eagles 15s program.
Where is the USA in the world rugby rankings?
As of the latest rankings available in October 2026, the Women's Eagles are sixth in the world after their September wins, and the Men's Eagles are 14th.
Who will the USA men play at Rugby World Cup 2027?
The USA is in Pool E with France, Samoa and Japan. They play France in Melbourne on October 2, 2027, Samoa in Perth on October 9 and Japan in Adelaide on October 15.
How can I watch the USA Eagles in the US?
Attend in Mansfield, Nashville or Harrison, or watch on TV or streaming. World Rugby's deal with CBS Sports made Paramount+ the US home of World Rugby through 2029. Check USA Rugby's channels for confirmed broadcast details for each game.
Is there a rugby tournament in Las Vegas in 2027?
Yes. The APR Games 2027 is a 10s rugby tournament in Las Vegas on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29 to 31, 2027, with $15,000 in prize money across the Men's Elite and Women's Social divisions, plus a Youth division.
How do I join the APR Games player waitlist?
Join the waitlist at americanprorugby.com. Player entry is $299 and includes an official APR Games team jersey, a full kit bag, a minimum of three guaranteed pool games, opening-night access and a player profile on the APR website.
Keep Reading
Sources
- Goff Rugby Report: October International Series for Men's, Women's Eagles confirmed
- USA Rugby: Eagles tour stateside with tests in Texas, Tennessee and New Jersey
- USA Rugby: Women's Eagles roster named for WXV Global Series
- RugbyPass: USA see world rankings bump after big WXV win
- RugbyPass: Tafuna hat-trick ends Eagles' 20-year wait for three-game winning streak
- Rugby Australia: Twelve Wallabies confirmed in Australia A squad to tour USA
- RugbyPass: USA XV player ratings v Argentina XV
- CP24: Canada beats US 19–16 to take third at Pacific Nations Cup
- World Rugby: Japan crowned Pacific Nations Cup 2026 champions
- Americas Rugby News: USA World Cup planning hit by defecting All Blacks and Wallabies
- Goff Rugby Report: RWC 2027 pools set, USA join France, Japan, Samoa
- United States men's national rugby union team (2026 results and rankings)
Fixtures, squads, rankings and broadcast details are current as of October 12, 2026 and may change. Predictions are APR's opinion. Check USA Rugby for official updates and sign up for the APR newsletter for APR Games news. Questions? Contact us.