USA-capped Luke Carty, Irish Sevens ‘original’ Harry McNulty, his brother Sean McNulty and Sean O’Brien are all on the club’s books.

Carty, O’Brien and Sean McNulty all came off the bench for their team’s MLR Shield win in their club’s inaugural season in the league.

The LA Giltini’s cruised to a 31-17 victory against Rugby ATL at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Sunday night.

Former Connacht academy out-half Luke Carty has two caps for the United States national side after moving to LA, qualifying for the side through his grandmother.

The 23-year-old made his debut for the US against England and then started against his native Ireland last month, having only moved to the States earlier this year.

Sean O’Brien joined LA from the Leinster academy on a short-term contract in June and is a native of the US.

He played for the Ireland U20s last year and made his debut for the Leinster senior team earlier this year before moving stateside for more game-time.

Hooker Sean McNulty is a former Leinster academy player who played for Ireland up to the U20 level.

The 26-year-old is also US-qualified having spent much of his youth living in the States and first moved back over from Ireland to join the New England Free Jacks in 2019 before shifting to the Giltinis ahead of this season.

Older brother Harry was the only player out of the four not in the matchday 23 after he returned to America from the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Former Enniscorthy player Ross Deacon and former Leinster back Mark O’Keeffe were among the 23-man squad of the runners-up.

Deacon scored a late try to provide a consolation for the Atlanta side who were second-best on the day.

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Carty will earn his second cap for the USA Eagles when he starts against Andy Farrell’s Ireland side in front of 6,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium. You can visit lots of sites to get great offers. 

The 23-year-old’s immediate family, who he has not seen since January, will be in attendance for the match.

“Obviously, it’s a bit of a strange one but I’m trying to treat it as any other game,” Carty said.

The fly-half made his debut for the national side last weekend against England in a 43-29 loss.

The Athlone native scored nine points to open his account with the United States.

Carty was happy with how his debut went after helping his side to put a high amount of points past Eddie Jones’ England.

“[My debut] was pretty cool. I was pretty nervous beforehand. Obviously, it was a big game – playing England at Twickenham, but it was really enjoyable.”

He noted that the USA camp has made him feel welcome in the setup.

The opportunity to play for America was an idea that helped entice the Westmeath man to ‘the land of opportunity.’

The thought of playing at a Rugby World Cup was also an attractive pull factor for the former Buccaneers Player of the Year.

He exclaimed that “it would be pretty cool to do that” and spoke of his pride seeing his older brother, Ireland international Jack Carty accomplish one of his lifelong dreams.

He brought the lessons that the likes of Colm ‘Cullie’ Tucker, Mossy Lawlor and Eric Elwood taught him at the Connacht Academy to the West Coast of the USA at the start of 2021.

The Connacht academy prospect joined Darren Coleman’s LA Giltinis, after almost joining Coleman’s former side Gordon, a Sydney-based Australian side.

Major League Rugby has surpassed Carty’s expectations and he is enjoying his rugby across the Atlantic Ocean.

“I’ve actually been surprised by the level of it…every team has got better as the year went on.”

He is also enjoying each and every minute of sunshine by the beach in Los Angeles, something Ireland cannot grant the fly-half on a consistent basis – a welcome culture shock.

Carty trains alongside Australian rugby legends Adam-Ashley Cooper and Matt Giteau in LA and has learnt a lot from them in the several months he has been with the club.

“It’s been great to pick their brains and learn from them and get to play alongside them.”

Irish brothers Harry and Sean McNulty are also on the books of the MLR side, with the former heading to the Olympics as part of the Ireland Sevens side.

The fly-half said the team watched the Ireland Sevens qualify from San Diego and that he is very happy for his teammate to be going to the Olympics after being an ‘original’ of the IRFU Sevens programme.

The support the Giltinis players have received while in club colours has also impressed Carty.

The games are pretty loud and [the fans] are pretty passionate about it.”

However, he has not forgotten Ireland.

The US star still keeps an eye on the Gaelic scores and noted his disappointment after Roscommon’s season-ending defeat to Galway in the Connacht Senior Football Championship.

His roommate in the US Camp, Aran Islands native Paul Mullen, likes to remind him of it.

He also hopes to see an old teammate get out on the pitch for his first Irish cap on Saturday night.

“Paul Boyle, it’s good to see him playing well…hope he gets to play on Saturday.”

However, Carty’s eyes are placed firmly on what’s ahead and more than 6,000 pairs of eyes will be placed firmly on him.

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The Austin Gilgronis centre is one of 18 MLR players in the USA’s matchday 23 for the match against Ireland.

Irish-born US internationals Luke Carty and Paul Mullen are also among the 18 in the squad that plays in the MLR.

Campbell believes that the league is integral to the national team and will continue to be for the future.

“Just the fact that all team is playing week in week out and that the competition is getting better and better – not even every season, but each week,” said Campbell.

Campbell stated that it is a huge positive to have a domestic competition to build international-level players in.

He believes that the American players in the MLR can build a strong bond, even if they are not on the same team and that helps the squad when they all come together to put on the USA jersey.

“I think with a lot of us playing MLR, we have felt each other’s tendencies a bit.”

The US have added new players to their camp since their last time together in Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

However, the core of the current squad includes several players who went to Japan and this also helps the team’s chemistry, according to the captain.

Campbell clarified that most of the players in the squad have played with each other at one point or another, so that makes it easier.

Players like Christian Dyer, who came into the squad after missing out on a spot on the US Sevens Olympic Squad, have fit in very well, according to Campbell.

“I’m just really happy with the way the team has come together.”

Ireland’s game against the USA kicks off on Saturday at 7:15 pm.

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He is eligible to play for the United States as he has an American grandparent.

The Aran Islands native will play Ireland for the second time in his career on Saturday night in Dublin.

He first played the side in 2018 after they had beaten New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium.

Since then, he has played the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and has made a name for himself in Major League Rugby.

“To pull on the American jersey and to represent the red, white and blue – what an honour,” Mullen exclaimed.

The 19-time USA international has not been at home in Ireland since the first lockdown.

RugbyPass did a documentary with the forward during his time on the Aran Islands before returning to the States.

“I was absolutely delighted, in one aspect to be able to spend some time with my family, to be able to help out.”

However, he had to return to the US whenever he could.

The 29-year-old started playing rugby for Glenstal Abbey School when he was 13 and eventually progressed to the Munster underage ranks.

Mullen was called up for the Ireland U19s in 2010 after his performances at the underage level.

When it was time for him to go to college, his parents wanted him to study abroad.

“They thought that if I stayed in Ireland, I’d go off playing rugby.”

The tighthead prop moved to Texas and studied for his degree in Marine Engineering Technology at Texas A&M University and then received his master’s in Marine Resource Management in 2017.

Throughout this time, the Irish-born United States international was playing rugby but at a low level.

Mullen wanted to take his game to the next level and reached out to strength and conditioning coach Ed Cosner, who had worked with World Cup-winning New Zealanders Ben and Owen Franks.

His work with the strength and conditioning coach earned the prop a contract with the Houston Sabercats in the MLR and, later, a call-up to the USA Eagles.

Mullen has plied his trade in the MLR ever since and currently plays for the Utah Warriors, who sit second in the Western Conference after 14 games.

The Galwayman will play against Ireland on Saturday and then face the LA Giltinis next Saturday in a massive clash between the two best teams in the West.

His roommate for the week, Luke Carty, plays for the LA Giltinis and the pair will play each other one game after playing with each other for the US national team.

“[The rugby in MLR] has come on a lot. I’m really excited to see where it will be in three or four years time…the progress made in the past 3/4 years, if that progress is kept up…it’ll be a serious league.”

Having players like Matt Giteau and Ma’a Nonu come into the league will also help the growth of MLR across the US and worldwide.

18 out of 23 players in the USA matchday squad for Saturday’s game against Ireland play for an MLR side.

Mullen is happy to be back with a group that he considers family, even if there are some new faces in the team.

The fact everyone is together again after being forced apart because of the pandemic is something Mullen cherishes.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, you know. I mean, just even being in camp here, granted there’s a lot of restrictions because COVID, it’s very different but just to be amongst the boys again…is brilliant.”

The USA play Ireland in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 7:15 pm on Saturday, July 10th.

The game will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2.

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The USA lost 43-29 to Eddie Jones’ England but were the better side in the second half after a poor first 40 minutes.

Carty scored nine points on the day to help the side to close the gap they had allowed to open up as they outscored the English 26-17 to finish on a high.

“I thought [his debut] went very well,” Gold said.

“I thought he was quite composed – he’s a confident young man.”

Irish-born Carty will start on Saturday night against Ireland at fly-half, collecting his second cap for the USA Eagles in the process.

Carty qualifies for the United States via his grandmother, who was born in New York.

He moved to the US at the beginning of 2021 to join the LA Giltinis, who are currently playing their inaugural season in Major League Rugby.

The United States international has impressed for the side that also has Australian legends Adam-Ashley Cooper and Matt Giteau on its books.

Paul Mullen is another USA star that has impressed Gary Gold since coming into the American national side.

Mullen made his debut for the States in the summer of 2018 as a substitute in the side’s 62-13 win over Russia in Colorado.

The Aran Islands native has gone to represent the national team at the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and will play the country of his birth for the second time, earning his 20th cap in the process.

Gold noted the Utah Warriors’ prop’s improvement since breaking into the Eagles squad and gave credit to the MLR as one of the reasons for that.

“Yeah, I think he’s improved…I think that’s down to the MLR and being able to get regular game time.”

The 29-year-old will also start against Ireland on Saturday night, positioned at tighthead prop.

To see the USA squad for the match, click here.

The game will kick-off at 7:15 pm with RTÉ broadcasting it in the Republic of Ireland.

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The side is less experienced than the one that played Japan last week.

Eight uncapped players make the squad with four of them starting – all four uncapped starters are Ulster players.

Dave Kilcoyne and Ronan Kelleher start once again with Ulster prop Tom O’Toole earning his first cap alongside them at tighthead prop.

James Ryan will captain the side once again with Leinster teammate Ryan Baird beside him in the second row.

Caelan Doris is the most experienced player in the Ireland back row with eight caps to his name.

Nick Timoney will make his Ireland debut at openside flanker while Gavin Coombes makes will also make his first start for the boys in green.

Munster’s Craig Casey is also set to make his first start for Ireland at scrum-half with Joey Carbery beside him in the number 10 role.

Carbery is starting his second consecutive game for Ireland since being out of the squad for two years.

Veteran Stuart McCloskey will partner with Ulsterman James Hume for the first time at the international level.

Andrew Conway returns to the Irish starting lineup and is part of a back three, including Hugo Keenan and debutant winger Robert Baloucoune.

The bench includes four uncapped players and the eight players have a collective total of 29 caps between them, with tighthead Finlay Bealham having a personal tally of 15.

The game will be televised live on RTÉ 2.

Ireland Team V USA

Backs

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) 12 caps
14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster) uncapped
13. James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster) uncapped
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster) 5 caps
11. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 24 caps
10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 23 caps
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) 2 caps

Forwards

1. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 44 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) 12 caps
3. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster) uncapped
4. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) 4 caps
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 36 caps captain
6. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 8 caps
7. Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster) uncapped
8. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster) 1 cap

Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht) 5 caps
17. Ed Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 15 caps
19. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster) uncapped
20. Paul Boyle (Buccaneers/Connacht) uncapped
21. Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht) uncapped
22. Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster) uncapped
23. Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster) 4 caps

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