mens
international
When Marno Redelinghuys first arrived in USA almost seven years ago, the idea of playing test rugby seemed far away. Captain side? Unbelievable.
But this weekend, the 33-year-old will lead the USA Men against one Australia XV at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey.
Redelinghuys made his Test debut in July 2025 against Belgium. Since then, he has become a vital cog in Scott Lawrence’s forward pack, repaying the faith shown in him by the coach who originally brought him to Rugby ATL for 2020. Major League Rugby season.
“It was a really proud and special moment for me,” said Redelinghuys RugbyPass. “To be given the opportunity to be captain is something I do not take lightly. It is a great honor. It means a lot to me to know that the coaches and the group have that trust in me.”
“I’m really excited about it, but more than anything I see it as a responsibility to lead the boys, represent the shirt and make sure we can put in a performance that everyone can be proud of.”
Since his arrival at Rugby ATL ahead of the 2020 MLR season, Redelinghuys has been a staple in the league. After two seasons in Atlanta, he moved to the Houston SaberCats to play under Heyneke Meyer and spent four years with the Texas club before joining Seattle Seawolves for the 2026 season.
“When I first came to the United States seven years ago, I was just looking for an opportunity to play rugby, challenge myself and see where the game could take me,” Redelinghuys said. “I don’t think I could have imagined at the time that one day I would be in a position to be the captain of Team USA.
“When you come in as a foreign player, you never know how things are going to go. You come in, you work hard, you try to earn the respect of your teammates and you go one step at a time.”
“Looking back now, it’s pretty special to see how far the journey has taken me. I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in the US, the people I’ve met along the way, and the teammates and coaches who have helped me get to this point.”
Now, his first assignment as captain comes with the added challenge of helping the Eagles bounce back from last weekend’s heavy loss.
Redelinghuys starts at blindside against the Australia XV on Friday night, joined in the back row by Paddy Ryan and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz.
Lawrence made a number of changes after the team was down 61-12 at the last timeout. That includes an all-new front row of Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Kaleb Geiger and Mason Pedersen. Sam Golla starts on the second row alongside Nathan Den Hoedt.
Changes continue at half-back, where Ruben de Haas starts at scrum-half and partners Luke Carty. Cassh Maluia and Wayne van der Bank form the center of the partnership, while Joe Mano, Conner Mooneyham and Davy Coetzer form the back three.
After announcing his squad for the match, USA coach Scott Lawrence reiterated that his goal in 2026 was to “prioritize long-term development over short-term results”, explaining how the squad tried to replicate the demands of the Rugby World Cup.
Friday night’s game at Sports Illustrated Stadium will be the USA’s last before traveling to Europe for the second half of the Nations Cup.
The Americans play against Hong Kong China, Romania and Georgia in the battle to win their pool after securing victories over Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain in July.
Ahead of the USA’s back-to-back games against an Australia XV at home, the Eagles finished fourth in the Pacific Nations Cup, concluding the tournament with a 19-16 loss to Canada in Tokyo.
Before the team’s many European stars return, the U.S. wants to leave its home fans on a high, especially after last weekend’s 61-12 loss to the same opponent at Geodis Park in Nashville.
“The result last week was not what we wanted and there is disappointment when you don’t get the result you worked so hard for,” said Redelinghuys.
“There’s a lot of belief in this group and the guys are really motivated to get things right. We know it’s going to be another big challenge on Friday, but we’re focused on ourselves, on improving the things we can control and on a performance that reflects the standards we want to set as a team.”
