US Eagles announce weakened squad

Ireland’s summer opponents meet this Saturday without European based players

Both the US Eagles and Canada will be match hardened ahead of Ireland's tour next month as they square off in the Pacific Nations Cup this Saturday in Edmonton (9pm Irish time).

It's an ideal opportunity for interim Ireland head coach Les Kiss to do some spying but the Eagles coach Mike Tolkin must plan without European based professionals like Biarritz winger Taku Ngwenya and Northampton lock cum flanker Samu Manoa.

The latter is playing in Saturday's English Premiership final against Leicester, while both are due to face the British and Irish Lions with the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1st.

They are, however, expected to be in Houston for the Ireland test on June 8th, along with Saracens versatile outside back Chris Wyles and Stade Francais lock Scott LaValla.

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Todd Clever will lead them out on Saturday after returning from his Japanese club.

It's unclear whether Canada's most famous player, Jamie Cudmore (34), will be available for the June 15th test in Toronto, as the most arduous of season's with ASM Clermont Auvergne has two more games to run, presuming they beat Castres in Saturday's Top 14 semi-final.

Glasgow winger DTH van der Merwe is also unavailable this weekend but due to return to play Ireland, as are London Irish flanker Jebb Sinclair and Australian born Bedford fullback James Pritchard.

US Eagles squad (v Canada): Tom Coolican, Todd Clever (capt), Peter Dahl,

Brian Doyle, Zach Fenoglio, Eric Fry, Troy Hall, Graham Harriman, Luke Hume, Seamus Kelly, Toby L'Estrange, Mike MacDonald, Liam Murphy, James Paterson, Shawn Pittman, John Quill, Chris Saint, Blaine Scully, Robbie Shaw, Adam Siddall, Louis Stanfill, Andrew Suniula, Phil Thiel, Nick Wallace.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent