Senior International Matches (Men)

Fri 27th February 2026   - KO  20:15 - Coronado High School, Las Vegas
  Attendance: 748

United States of America

28

FT

20

Half Time
10 - 12

Scotland

Tries

Shingirai Hlanguyo (27)
Daniel Vidot (37)
Jace Delaney (44)
Wes Piggins (51)
Tevita Bryce (63)

Lewis Clarke (15)
Max Anderson-Moore (39)
Brett Carter (55)
Andrew Brown (79)

Goals

Esteban Tupuola (0/1)
Kyle Granby (4/4)

Luke Punton (2/4)

Match Preview: USA and Scotland name line ups for men's Las Vegas game

The first internationals of the year take place in Las Vegas on Friday 27 February as USA host Scotland in an U19 men’s and senior women’s and men’s triple header. The games take place Coronado High School with 15.45, 18.00 and 20.15 kick offs respectively, local time.

Both the senior men’s and women’s encounters will be played for world ranking points. Those games build on USA’s last outings this time last year, also in Las Vegas, when the women overcame Greece 46-0 but the men went down 46-10 to their Hellenic counterparts..

USARL chair, Matt Goschnick, commented: “The USARL board is excited to see all the squads get together and to build on last year’s event here. It shows a commitment to pathways and development." with new men’s head coach Adam Woolnough adding: “This is a new start for the rugby league in the US.”

Scotland men’s head coach Adam Houston, who draws on eight players from the Scotland Premier League, noted: “This fixture could be a significant moment in Scotland Rugby League getting back to where we belong. We have a talented group, some boys receiving their first cap who have shown commitment and sacrifice to be here.”

United States of America (squad): Anson Jiang, Jace Delaney, Kyle Granby, Peter Lupton, Tevita Bryce (Brooklyn Kings), Daniel Vidot, Ryan Burroughs (DC Cavalry), David Washington, Jason Martin (Jacksonville Axemen), Esteban Tupuola, Shingirai Hlanguyo, Tyler Sisley (LA Roosters), Fatai Makavaha (Provo Broncos), Celcius Tarawhiti (Riverton Seagulls), Wes Piggins (South West Florida Copperheads), Joe Eichner, Matt Finnesy (Tampa Mayhem)

Scotland (squad): Brett Carter, Max Anderson-Moore (Barrow Raiders), George Shannon, Lewis Clarke, Pete Burns, Tom Murray (Edinburgh Eagles), Luke Punton (Glebe Dirty Reds), Kieran Moran (Midlands Hurricanes), Connor Terrill (Millom), Dan Turland (Mudgeeraba Redbacks), Joe Kirkup (Penrith RUFC), Ross Whitmore (Rochdale Hornets), Jacob Grierson (Siddal), Ben Morris (Unattached), Andrew Brown, Corrie Dicks, Jordan Duncan, Niall Hall (West End Warriors)

26 February 2026
4 Ryan Burroughs
Full Back
Pete Burns 1
2 Shingirai Hlanguyo
Right Wing
Brett Carter 2
24 Jason Martin
Right Centre
Andrew Brown 3
5 David Washington
Left Centre
Jacob Grierson 4
3 Esteban Tupuola
Left Wing
Max Anderson-Moore 5
21 Celcius Tarawhiti
Stand Off
Lewis Clarke 6
19 Peter Lupton
Scrum Half
Luke Punton 7
23 Tevita Bryce
Prop
Connor Terrill 8
7 Jace Delaney
Hooker
Ross Whitmore 9
10 Matt Finnesy
Prop
Ben Morris 13
20 Daniel Vidot
Second Row
George Shannon 11
11 Wes Piggins
Second Row
Dan Turland 12
13 Joe Eichner
Loose Forward
Kieran Moran 10
14 Fatai Makavaha
Int 1
Jordan Duncan 14
17 Kyle Granby
Int 2
Joe Kirkup 15
18 Tyler Sisley
Int 3
Niall Hall 16
22 Anson Jiang
Int 4
Tom Murray 17
Reserve 1
Corrie Dicks 18

USA denied Scotland a trio of wins at the Las Vegas double header, completing the day with a win in the men’s international in a game which proved to be close and exciting throughout.

“It was a gritty and tough performance having to to fight back” said Adam Woolnough, USA Head Coach. “The first half we were at 45% (for our sets) and we had to change that. I couldn’t be prouder of the effort and the pride we showed in the jersey. That is what got us over the line in the end.”

It was Scotland who scored first as Lewis Clarke’s double dummy saw him shimmy through in the middle of the park to score under the posts, Luke Punton kicking the conversion without problems.

Shingirai Hlanguyo found space on the right edge to take a short pass off the play-the-ball and being able to improve the angle in the in-goal area, though it was not sufficient for Esteban Tupuola to convert, leaving USA Scotland trailing by two points.

Daniel Vidot crashed through taking four defenders with him to put the Hawks in front, with the home side having built pressure on the back of Scotland’s ill-discipline. Kyle Granby added the first of four kicks to extend the lead.

Max Anderson-Moore intercepted and raced in from 70 metres as the clock wound down in the second half, with Punton restoring Scotland’s lead with the conversion as both sides went to the sheds.

Jace Delaney scooted out of dummy-half early in the second half to put the home side back in front, with Wes Piggins powering through shortly afterwards to ground the ball on the line as the momentum swung towards the USA. 

Brett Carter dived in on the left edge as USA gave away position from a penalty, but Punton was unable to convert from the sideline to reduce the deficit. 

The lead was restored to twelve points as Tevita Bryce carried strongly to ground on the line just after the hour mark.

Scotland through everything at the USA in the final quarter, eventually breaking through as Andrew Brown took a great pass and dived to meet the corner flag. Punton didn’t have the range from the touchline and the hooter put paid to any further comeback. 

“Obviously we are disappointed we didn’t win but I am genuinely proud of the effort and there was no lack of heart” commented Scotland Head Coach Adam Houston. “We rolled the dice a couple of times and it didn’t come off. It is great to come out here and be part of this occasion. We played well but it didn’t quite come off. It is what it is but we know what we need to do and we know we will get better”

28 February 2026