Marno Redelinghuys Named USA Eagles Captain for Australia A Test in New Jersey
- Marno Redelinghuys, a South African-born flanker from Klerksdorp, received a call-up to captain the USA Eagles against Australia A in New Jersey
- The 33-year-old, who played for the Stormers, said he never imagined leading the side when he first arrived in the US seven years ago
- The USA XV carries a strong South African flavour, with several ex-Junior Boks named in the starting line-up and on the bench
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Marno Redelinghuys has been named captain of the USA Eagles for their fixture against Australia A at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey on Friday, 31 October 2026, a milestone the South African-born flanker described as a profound honour.
Source: Getty Images
The 33-year-old from Klerksdorp, who built his early career in South African rugby through Varsity Cup stints with Pukke and Maties before representing Western Province and the Stormers, reflected on how far he has come since relocating to the United States seven years ago.
"I don't think I could have imagined back then that I'd one day be in a position to captain a USA side," Redelinghuys told RugbyPass.
"When I first came over, I was just looking for an opportunity to play rugby, challenge myself and see where the game could take me."
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Redelinghuys' Journey to Eagles Captaincy
His path through American rugby began with Rugby ATL during the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Stints at the Houston SaberCats and the Seattle Seawolves followed, with the latter club being his current team for the 2026 season. He made his Test debut against Belgium in July 2025 and has grown into a trusted figure under head coach Scott Lawrence.
Being handed the captaincy carries personal significance for Redelinghuys.
"It was a really proud and special moment for me," he said.
"To be allowed to captain is something I don't take lightly. It's a huge honour. It means a lot to know the coaches and the group have that trust in me."
South African Talent Shapes USA XV
The selected side features a distinctly South African core. Former Junior Springboks flyhalf David Coetzer lines up at fullback, Wayne van der Bank slots into the midfield, and Ruben de Haas starts at scrumhalf. Ex-Junior Bok centre Dan Kriel is named among the replacements.
The Eagles enter Friday's match motivated to reverse last weekend's heavy 61-12 defeat at the hands of the same opposition. Redelinghuys acknowledged the disappointment while stressing the squad's resolve.
"The result last week wasn't what we wanted," he said.
"There's a lot of belief in this group, and the boys are really motivated to put things right."
USA name 5 South African-born players
Briefly News previously reported that five South African-born players have been named in the USA squad for the Australia A clash, with a familiar Springbok family connection attracting attention
The USA XV have reshuffled their line-up after a heavy defeat, with a South African-born captain tasked with leading the response
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
