Rugby World Cup
USA to face Harlequins in World Cup warm-up
ESPN Staff
April 30, 2015
USA captain Todd Clever will lead the Eagles at this year's World Cup © Getty Images
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The positive news keeps on coming for USA Rugby this week with the national side to welcome Aviva Premiership club Harlequins to Philadelphia as they prepare for Rugby World Cup 2015.

Just days after it was revealed an Americas "Six Nations" could be up and running as early as next year, USA Rugby confirmed the Eagles would face the London club at Philadelphia's PPL Park on the 30th of August. Harlequins' English rivals, Leicester, will also travel to Philadelphia this year but Richard Cockerill's side will instead face the NRFL Rough Riders at Lincoln Financial Field - the home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.

There has also been plenty of talk about a potential Test between the Wallabies and Eagles in Chicago - rumoured to be on September 5 - in what would be a similar event to the All Blacks' stopover in 2014. The clash with Harlequins is locked in though, giving the Eagles a valuable hit-out before they head to England to face Pool B rivals South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and Japan.

"We look forward to welcoming Harlequins to the USA this August; this fixture is an exciting opportunity for both teams involved," USA rugby chief executive Nigel Melville said. "Philadelphia is truly a rugby hotbed and we are excited to be back. Harlequins will provide a stern opposition to the USA as we prepare for the 2015 Rugby World Cup."

Harlequins toured the United States during the 1970s and 80s, and chief executive David Ellis said the club was looking forward to returning to a country where rugby was the "sleeping giant".

"Harlequins is a globally recognised club and this match will help drive our global ambitions," Ellis said. "Rugby in the USA is a sleeping giant and we are looking forward to being a part of this unique occasion as we begin to help develop the sport in America."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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