Three former Lions will compete with the USA Falcons in their quest to represent Team USA in a last chance qualifier for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Jonah Dietenberger (2021 graduate), Michael De Waal (2019 graduate) and Chance Wenglewski (2019 graduate) are playing in hopes of making the USA Eagles roster for the qualifying series in Dubai in November 2022.
The Falcons will send separate teams for matches in two different locations. One squad will travel to Montevideo, Uruguay to play Uruguay XV October 13, followed by Argentina XV October 18.
The other Falcons squad will compete in South Africa against the Toyota Cheetahs October 14 and against the Airlink Pumas October 21.
Dietenberger is part of the Falcons roster traveling to Uruguay. He was a second-row player for Lindenwood and currently plays for the Utah Warriors in the MLR. Dietenberger is a threat in the lineout standing at a towering six feet, seven inches. Given his height, it comes to the surprise of many how fluid and athletic he is at the point of contact. He drops his hips very well and looks to bring a physical presence to the USA team.
De Waal, who played flanker for the Lions and who currently plays for the Austin Gilgronis in the MLR, will travel to South Africa. De Waal has been a breakdown specialist on the Gilgronis and was selected as their Forward of the Year in 2022. He uses his wit and tenacity to create turnovers and slow down the opposition attack at the breakdown.
Wenglewski, a former prop for Lindenwood who currently plays for Rugby New York, is coming off his most successful season at the MLR level where he led his team to a 2022 Championship. He is a technician in the scrum where he utilizes not only his strength, but his leverage to impose his will in the scrums. Wenglewski will also be representing the Falcons in their trip to South Africa.
At the conclusion of the four USA Falcons test matches, a final roster will be selected to represent the USA Eagles in Dubai to compete for the last remaining spot in the Rugby World Cup, which will take place in France in September and October 2023.
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