Faraimo and Pettybourne brothers in USA squad for Americas Championship
Hull FC winger Bureta Faraimo and Toulouse duo Eddy and Sonny Pettybourne are among the high-profile names in USA’s squad for the Americas Championship.
Faraimo, who scored 19 tries in 29 Super League matches this season, is the highest-profile name in USA’s 21-man playing squad. The Pettybourne brothers have also been included, along with Sheffield Eagles duo Corey Makelim and Mark Offerdahl.
The University of North Florida, Jacksonville, will host two double-header rounds on November 13 and 17, and in the opening fixtures the Hawks take on Chile, the winners facing either Jamaica or Canada.
USA coach Sean Rutgerson’s selection is a mix of players with previous international experience. Faraimo is set to win his eighth cap, having made his debut during the side’s 32-20 win over Cook Islands at Bristol in the 2013 World Cup, and others in line to make their Test debut.
The squad contains nine domestic-based players from six clubs, and Rutgerson believes the squad is as strong a combination as possible that he, and assistant coach Brent Richardson, could select.
“I’m really happy with who we have and am more than confident they will be able to do the job for the USA,” he said.
“We have a lot more experience than last time, at the 2017 World Cup, and hopefully we are a lot fitter.
“We are expecting the other nations to be a whole lot better as well, so it should provide a great example of our game to all the fans here.”
USA 21-man squad for Americas Championship: Nick Newlin (Atlanta Rhinos), Ryan Burroughs (Barrow Raiders), Brandon Anderson, Jay Robinson (Brooklyn Kings), Jerome Veve (Burleigh Bears), Joel Luani (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Chris Wiggins (Delaware Black Foxes), Bureta Faraimo (Hull FC), Kyle Grinold, David Washington (Jacksonville Axemen), Joe Eichner (Junee Diesels), Chris Frazier (NOVA Eagles), Kyle Denham, Andrew Kneisly (Philadelphia Fight), Cory Makelim, Mark Offerdahl (Sheffield Eagles), Connor Donohue (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Eddie Pettybourne, Sonny Pettybourne (Toulouse Olympique), Danny Howard (Wentworth Magpies), Kristian Freed (Wests Mitchelton).