The USA has named a 49-man preliminary squad for October's Rugby World Cup.

A 30-strong touring squad will be finalized in early September. The long list comprises players selected to either the USA Test side or 'A' squad in 2003.

Head coach Tom Billups will have an opportunity to further assess most of the named athletes before the final squad announcement. The USA plays three tests in the Pan-American tournament in late August, and the USA 'A' team plays Russia this Saturday.

Among the preliminary squad are seven veterans of the '99 Rugby World Cup; loose forwards Dan Lyle, Dave Hodges and Shaun Paga, locks Luke Gross and Alec Parker, hooker Kirk Khasigian and scrumhalf Kevin Dalzell. The list includes just two players who have not appeared for the US in 2003 -- hooker Ray McGettigan and loose forward Josh Dean.

USA preliminary training squad for RWC '03
Forwards: Erick Anderson (OMBAC), Josh Dean (Air Force), Dan Dorsey (Swansea), Oloseti Fifita (Hayward), Jurie Gouws (Santa Monica), Mark Griffin (New York Old Blue), Luke Gross (Llanelli), Dave Hodges (Llanelli), Conrad Hodgson (OMBAC), Paul Jennings (San Jose), Kirk Khasigian (Belmont Shore), Gerhard Klerck (Aspen), Scott Lawrence (Grand Rapids), Richard Liddington (Stade Francais), Christian Long (Chicago Lions), Dan Lyle (Bath), Michael MacDonald (Cal), Andrew McGarry (Chicago Lions), Ray McGettigan (Belmont Shore), Chris Ostentowski (Belmont Shore), Shaun Paga (Golden Gate), Alec Parker (Aspen), Aaron Satchwell (Golden Gate), Kort Schubert (Olympic), Brian Surgener (Back Bay), John Tarpoff (OMBAC), Jacob Waasdorp (Trinity), Matthew Wyatt (OMBAC)

Backs: John Buchholz (Olympic), Kain Cross (Santa Monica), Kevin Dalzell (OMBAC), Philip Eloff (Chicago Lions), Paul Emerick (University of Northern Iowa), David Fee (Chicago Lions), Riaan Hamilton (OMBAC), Mike Hercus (Belmont Shore), Jason Keyter (Rotherham), Kimball Kjar (BYU), Jone Naqica (Denver Barbarians), Cayo Nicolau (Middle Tennessee State), Doug Rowe (Denver Barbarians), Matt Schmitz (Chicago Lions), Matt Sherman (Cal), Salesi Sika (BYU), Mose Timoteo (Golden Gate), Albert Tuipulotu (San Mateo), Riaan Van Zyl (OPSB), Francois Viljoen (Washington), Link Wilfley (Rotherham)