USA Eagles October Series Review: What Harrison Taught Us Before November
Australia A 52–0 and England 55–12 closed the home series on a hard night in New Jersey. Here is what the five October Tests really showed, and why the Nations Cup tour in Europe matters more than the scorelines.
Our USA Eagles October series review starts with a tough Friday night. On Oct. 30 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, the Women's Eagles lost 55–12 to England and the Men's Eagles lost 52–0 to Australia A. Two heavy defeats in one doubleheader is not how anyone in American rugby wanted the home series to end. But five Tests in three weeks gave us a lot more information than one bad night, and most of it is useful.
We previewed this series in USA Eagles October series: what's at stake, then followed it through the WXV Global Series weekend and the Nashville doubleheader. This is the wrap-up: what happened in Harrison, what the whole month says about both programs, and what comes next, starting with the men's Nations Cup tour in France, Romania and Georgia this month.
- Men: Australia A 52–0 USA in Harrison (33–0 at half-time, eight tries to none). Across two Tests the Australians won 113–12 on aggregate, 17 tries to two.
- Women: England 55–12 USA. England led 17–7 at the break, then pulled away while the Eagles were a player down. Wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four tries.
- The streak: the loss ends the Women's Eagles' five-Test winning run (South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Italy twice), their best since 2006.
- Next: the men head to Europe to defend top spot in their World Rugby Nations Cup pool: Hong Kong China (in France), Romania (Bucharest, Nov. 14) and Georgia (Tbilisi, Nov. 21).
- APR's take: the set piece decided almost everything in October. It is the clearest lesson for the Eagles, and for every 10s team heading to Las Vegas in May.
Harrison, Oct. 30: The Scoreboard
The doubleheader started with the women at 5:15 PM ET and finished with the men at 8 PM ET, both streamed on Paramount+. Here are the two results side by side, followed by the whole October series.
| Match | Result | Half-time | Tries | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Women v England (WXV Global Series) | England 55–12 | England 17–7 | 2–9 | Moloney-MacDonald four tries |
| USA Men v Australia XV | Australia 52–0 | Australia 33–0 | 0–8 | Six USA lineouts lost (four stolen, two not straight) |
| Date (2026) | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17 | USA Women v Italy | Mansfield, Texas | USA 36–27 |
| Oct. 24 | USA Women v Italy | GEODIS Park, Nashville | USA 54–24 |
| Oct. 24 | USA Men v Australia XV | GEODIS Park, Nashville | Australia 61–12 |
| Oct. 30 | USA Women v England | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, N.J. | England 55–12 |
| Oct. 30 | USA Men v Australia XV | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, N.J. | Australia 52–0 |
Two wins and three losses, all at home. The two wins were the women against Italy. The three losses came against teams that play at, or close to, the very top of the sport. That split is the honest summary of where American rugby is right now.
Men: Australia A 52, USA 0
Six days after the 61–12 loss in Nashville, head coach Scott Lawrence rotated his matchday squad heavily, giving game time to a wider group of players with Marno Redelinghuys leading the side. The plan, as Lawrence had said before the series, was to widen the player pool and build the game plan in layers ahead of 2027. The cost was a less settled team against a touring side packed with capped Wallabies.
The Eagles started with energy and some hard early tackling, but Australia found space on both edges and led 33–0 at half-time. Tries came from Joe Brial, fly-half Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Corey Toole, captain Matt Faessler, Mac Grealy, Kalani Thomas, Nick Frost and, in the final minute, Lington Ieli. McLaughlin-Phillips kicked six of eight conversions for 17 points and set up several of the other tries. Zac Lomax, called into the touring squad during the series, created Thomas's try and made a try-saving tackle late in the first half, knocking the ball loose as an American attacker tried to ground it.
The lineout was the story
If one area explains the result, it is the lineout. According to Rugby Australia's report, Frost, Will Harris and Toby Macpherson stole four USA throws and forced two more not-straight calls, to the point where the Eagles stopped kicking to touch. RugbyPass's ratings highlighted the same problem for starting hooker Kaleb Geiger, while noting that replacement Shilo Klein hit all of his throws off the bench. When you cannot win your own lineout, you lose your main way of turning territory into attacking possession. The Eagles never scored from their visits to Australia's 22.
Discipline did not help. Prop Mason Pedersen was sin-binned for tripping Lomax. Australia also lost Luke Reimer to a yellow card for a no-arms tackle, which gave the USA a numbers advantage, but they could not turn it into points.
Who stood up for the Eagles
There were individual positives. RugbyPass rated back-rower Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz the best American forward, carrying well all night. Wayne van der Bank organized the defense and made a key second-half tackle to stop a likely try. Wing Conner Mooneyham came within inches of scoring in the corner after a Fa'anana-Schultz pass. Luke Carty grew into the game with contestable kicks. Oscar Lennon played 75 minutes after Ruben De Haas was injured inside the first six. Those are the players who gave Lawrence answers rather than more questions.
APR's view: the aggregate is ugly, but the questions are specific
113–12 over two Tests is a number that will follow this squad, and it should sting. But our reading is that it points to fixable, specific problems rather than a lack of effort. The Eagles lost the set piece, lost the gain line against bigger and more experienced forwards, and gave away field position with errors. Those are exactly the things a team builds over a full season of high-level matches, and American players still get too few of them.
That is not an excuse; it is the context. As we explained in our guide to pro rugby in the USA, Major League Rugby goes into 2027 with five teams. Australia A's squad came from a Super Rugby system that plays far more top-level matches every year. Closing that gap takes more games, more coaching and more pathways, which is one reason the APR Games exists.
Women: England 55, USA 12
The women's game was closer than the final score suggests, at least for 40 minutes. England went ahead through two early tries from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, in the fifth and 13th minutes. Hope Rogers answered for the Eagles in the 24th minute, converted by Bella Vogel, and England's Meg Jones added a converted try on the half-hour. At half-time it was 17–7 and the Eagles were very much in the contest.
The game turned early in the second half. Prop Mona Tupou was sin-binned for repeated scrum penalties, and England scored three tries in nine minutes while the Eagles were a player down, including Moloney-MacDonald's third and fourth. From there England's bench took over, with tries from Mia Venner, Bryony Field, Maddie Feaunati and Sadia Kabeya. Kate Zackary scored the last try of the night after the clock had gone red. Moloney-MacDonald was player of the match and said England "attacked it from minute zero to minute 80."
The streak ends, but look at what it contained
The defeat ends a five-Test winning run, the Women's Eagles' best since 2006. It is worth putting that run next to this result rather than letting one score erase it.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 11 | South Africa | Pretoria | W 26–19 |
| Sept. 20 | Ireland | Dublin | W 40–36 |
| Sept. 26 | Wales | Cardiff | W 26–24 |
| Oct. 17 | Italy | Mansfield, Texas | W 36–27 |
| Oct. 24 | Italy | Nashville, Tennessee | W 54–24 |
| Oct. 30 | England | Harrison, New Jersey | L 12–55 |
Head coach Jack Hanratty, quoted by The Rugby Breakdown, was disappointed with the margin, said losing the set piece caused his team real problems and praised the impact of England's bench. He also described the Eagles as chasing the very top teams, said that kind of progress takes time, and called the players' buy-in excellent. We think that is a fair reading. England are the reigning world champions. They had just lost twice in a row to Canada, which ended a 41-Test unbeaten run, and they arrived in New Jersey with something to prove. The Eagles met a fully motivated champion and were competitive for a half.
APR's view: the gap is in depth and set piece, not belief
England's bench scored four tries. Ours did not have that firepower. The scrum, where Tupou's penalties came from, is where the game tipped. Those are the same two themes as the men's match: set piece and squad depth. The good news is that American women now have a domestic stage to build depth. Women's Elite Rugby has six teams, and a Boston Banshees prop scored on debut against Italy a week earlier. More of those players getting Test minutes is how the next five-match run becomes a ten-match run. It is also why the APR Games has a Women's Social division with its own $5,000 prize purse.
Five Things the October Series Taught Us
1. The set piece decides Tests
Australia's maul try in Nashville, six lost USA lineouts in Harrison and a run of scrum penalties against the women: almost every big swing in the series came from a scrum, lineout or maul. Teams that win their own set piece get to play; teams that do not spend the night defending. It is the least glamorous lesson and the most important one.
2. Benches win second halves
England led by 10 at half-time and won by 43. Australia A were already well ahead at half-time in both games and kept scoring. When the replacements are as good as the starters, the last 30 minutes become a different game. American depth, especially in the front row, is still catching up.
3. The women's program is ahead of the men's
This is not a criticism of the men; it reflects where the two teams sit. The Women's Eagles are ranked sixth in the world, went 4–1 in this window and won away in Dublin and Cardiff. The men, ranked 14th going into the series, are building toward a Rugby World Cup in which they face France, Samoa and Japan. Both deserve support, but they are at different points on the curve.
4. Discipline only pays if you cash in
Both men's Tests included Australian cards, and the USA scored nothing extra during them. The women conceded three tries during their one sin-binning. Ten minutes a player up or down is worth a try either way at Test level. Our guide to how long a rugby game is explains how sin bins and the 20-minute red card trial work.
5. American crowds will come
Mansfield, Nashville and Harrison all hosted Test rugby inside a month, with more than 8,000 at the women's game in Nashville. With the men's Rugby World Cup coming to the USA in 2031 and the women's in 2033, every well-run Test weekend in a new city is part of the case for the sport here. It is also why we believe in Las Vegas as a home for pro rugby.
Want more game time under the lights? This is it.
The APR Games plays 10s rugby over two 20-minute halves across Men's Elite and Women's Social, with $15,000 in prize money. The $299 player entry includes an official team jersey, a full kit bag, at least three guaranteed pool games, opening-night access and your player profile on americanprorugby.com.
What Comes Next: November's Nations Cup Tour
The men do not have long to recover. The USA go to Europe for the second window of the new World Rugby Nations Cup, a 12-team competition for unions that have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2027. Each team plays all six teams in the other pool, three in July and three in November, and the top team in each pool after November is champion. There is no finals day.
The Eagles go into the November window top of the Americas and Pacific pool with 14 points and a +24 points difference after three July wins: 30–29 over Portugal, 31–15 over Zimbabwe and 29–22 over Spain. Chile are second on 10 points. In the other pool, Georgia also have 14 points from three wins, and RugbyPass points out that the USA lost to Georgia 43–30 last year.
| Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | v Hong Kong China, Bourg-en-Bresse, France (Nov. 7–8 weekend) | v Romania, Bucharest (Sat. Nov. 14) | v Georgia, Tbilisi (Sat. Nov. 21) |
| Canada | v Georgia, Tbilisi (Sat. Nov. 7) | v Hong Kong China, Chambéry, France (Sat. Nov. 14) | v Romania, Bucharest (Fri. Nov. 20) |
| Chile | v Portugal, Lisbon (Sat. Nov. 7) | v Spain, Madrid (Sat. Nov. 14) | v Zimbabwe, Angoulême, France (Sat. Nov. 21) |
| Uruguay | v Spain (Sat. Nov. 7) | v Zimbabwe, Ealing, London (Sat. Nov. 14) | v Portugal, Lisbon (Sat. Nov. 21) |
Published fixture lists differ on some details, for example whether the USA's opener is on the Saturday or the Sunday and where Spain host Uruguay, so check World Rugby's match center for final dates and kickoff times.
APR's view: Tbilisi is the real test
Hong Kong China and Romania are games the Eagles should expect to compete in and can win. Georgia, at home, is the one that will tell us whether the October lessons have landed. Georgia's identity is built on scrum and maul, which is exactly where the USA struggled against Australia A. If the Eagles can hold their set piece in Tbilisi, a Nations Cup pool title is realistic. If they cannot, they will still come home with a clear work list for the 2027 season and a Rugby World Cup Pool E campaign against France (Oct. 2, Melbourne), Samoa (Oct. 9, Perth) and Japan (Oct. 15, Adelaide).
For the women, the 2026 Test calendar is complete. With four wins from five in the WXV Global Series window and a first look at what England's depth looks like up close, it has been their best year in a long time.
What It Means for 10s Rugby and the APR Games
The APR Games is a 10s tournament, not a Test match, but the October lessons apply directly. In 10s, each team fields five forwards and five backs, so every scrum and lineout involves a bigger share of your team than it does in 15s, and losing one hands the opposition both the ball and a lot of open space. Our 10s rugby positions guide explains how the forwards and backs divide the work. If you want to get your body ready for 40 minutes of that, our 8-week rugby training plan for 10s is the place to start, and our weekly Tuesday Skills series covers the basics one skill at a time, from catching under pressure to the spin pass. Full APR Games rules and squad sizes will be confirmed with player registration.
Depth matters in a tournament too. Teams play several games across a long weekend on Memorial Day, May 29–31, 2027, and the squads that rotate well finish strongest. That is one of the things we will be watching from our five founding franchises: the Vegas Kings, who call themselves "the undisputed royalty of pro rugby in the desert," and the Vegas Blackjacks, founded in 1976 and billed as Las Vegas's oldest sports club, alongside the Vegas Knights, Downtown Rugby and Vegas Lions, plus one mystery invitational team. See them all on the teams page.
New to the game after watching the Eagles? Our guide to starting rugby as an adult in Las Vegas is the first step. Coaches who want to work on set-piece and squad management can join the APR Coaching Clinic, May 28–31, 2027.
Coming to Vegas for the tournament? Our partner Luna Appleton publishes guides to where to stay, eat and celebrate in Las Vegas. Clubs planning game-day signage for their own grounds can talk to American LED Signage, another official APR partner.
The APR Games is made possible by our partners. Players and fans can support the businesses that support American rugby.
Our Tuesday Skills series is brought to you by Clann13, an official APR partner. Interested in the business side of Las Vegas sport? In Too Win focuses on Las Vegas business and investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in USA vs Australia A in New Jersey?
Australia A, playing as an Australia XV, beat the USA Men's Eagles 52–0 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Oct. 30, 2026. Australia led 33–0 at half-time and scored eight tries.
What was the aggregate score of the USA vs Australia A series?
Australia A won both Tests, 61–12 in Nashville on Oct. 24 and 52–0 in Harrison on Oct. 30, for a 113–12 aggregate and 17 tries to two.
Why did the USA struggle at the lineout?
Australia's locks and back-rowers, led by Nick Frost, Will Harris and Toby Macpherson, stole four USA throws and forced two not-straight calls in Harrison, according to Rugby Australia. Losing the lineout cost the Eagles their main source of attacking possession.
What was the score in USA Women vs England?
England beat the Women's Eagles 55–12 in Harrison on Oct. 30, 2026. It was 17–7 to England at half-time. England scored nine tries to two.
Who scored for the USA against England?
Hope Rogers scored in the 24th minute, converted by Bella Vogel, and Kate Zackary scored the final try of the match. England wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four tries and was player of the match.
Did the Women's Eagles' winning streak end?
Yes. The loss to England ended a five-Test winning run over South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Italy twice, the team's longest since 2006.
Who do the USA men play in November 2026?
In the World Rugby Nations Cup the USA play Hong Kong China in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, on the Nov. 7–8 weekend, Romania in Bucharest on Nov. 14 and Georgia in Tbilisi on Nov. 21. Check World Rugby for final kickoff times.
Can the USA win the Nations Cup?
Yes. The USA lead their pool with 14 points after three July wins, four points ahead of Chile. The team top of each pool after the November window is champion; there is no finals day.
Who do the USA play at Rugby World Cup 2027?
The Men's Eagles are in Pool E with France (Oct. 2, Melbourne), Samoa (Oct. 9, Perth) and Japan (Oct. 15, Adelaide). The tournament runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 13, 2027, in Australia.
How is the APR Games different from a Test match?
The APR Games 2027 is a 10s rugby tournament in Las Vegas on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29–31, 2027, with two 20-minute halves per game, Men's Elite, Women's Social and Youth divisions and $15,000 in prize money. Player entry is $299.
Keep Reading
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Sources
- Rugby Australia: McLaughlin-Phillips shines as Australia A complete shutout of USA
- RugbyPass: USA player ratings vs Australia A
- Sky Sports: USA 12-55 England match report
- The Rugby Breakdown: USA ends WXV series with England loss
- The Rugby Rant: USA vs Australia XV preview
- RugbyPass: USA Eagles face defining November tests
- World Rugby: Nations Cup set to resume with USA and Georgia leading the way
- World Rugby: Everything you need to know about the Nations Cup
- Planet Rugby: Nations Cup November fixtures and venues
- Major League Rugby: Australia XV take match one of two-game set
- Vegas Kings Rugby · Vegas Blackjacks Rugby Club (team sites)
This analysis is based on the match reports and releases listed above, current as of Nov. 2, 2026. Opinions labeled "APR's view" are ours. Scorers and statistics are as reported by those sources; check official match centers for final records and fixture times. APR Games 2027 competition rules and squad sizes will be confirmed with player registration. Images are illustrations of fictional players, not real matches or results. Questions? Contact us.