Aviva Premiership
USA player release deal ongoing
Tom Hamilton
October 17, 2014
Samu Manoa could face the All Blacks on November 1 © PA Photos
Enlarge

Talks over the release of Aviva Premiership players for the USA's game against New Zealand on November 1 are ongoing.

The match at Soldier Field falls outside the official IRB November Test window and Premiership Rugby rules say players are not permitted to be released by their clubs for Test duty in this instance.

With this in mind, ESPN understands USA Rugby has attempted to cut a deal with PRL which will see the Premiership's USA-qualified players available for selection for their game against the Kiwis but then unavailable for their next three matches in November against Romania, Tonga and Fiji.

The news will be a double-edged sword for the USA. On one hand they will have some of their best players free for Test duty against the All Blacks, a match that is arguably the biggest in American rugby history, but will have to look further within their pool of talent for the next three matches.

From the Premiership Northampton's Samu Manoa, Leicester's Blaine Scully and Saracens' Chris Wyles, Hayden Smith and Thretton Palamo are expected to be in the mix to face the All Blacks.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices