Taufete'e ends 1,130-day USA exile but Eagles fall apart in 63-14 loss to Japan

Joe Taufete’e marked his return to USA Eagles rugby after 1,130 days away with an appearance off the bench in a 63-14 defeat to Japan in Osaka, as the Eagles were overwhelmed by the Brave Blossoms in the opening fixture of the Pacific Nations Cup 2026.

The 33-year-old hooker, who made history in 2019 as the first player from a tier-two nation ever nominated for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award, had last featured for the Eagles in a 2023 Test against Romania. His return came as a second-half replacement for Shilo Klein, one of only two USA try-scorers on the day.

Japan had already done the damage by then, racing to a stunning 28-0 lead inside just 16 minutes. Klein’s try briefly halted the rot, and Tavite Lopeti also crossed for the Eagles, but the second half was one-way traffic in favour of the hosts.

“It’s tough going up against Japan, first Test match back. Just the way they play,” Taufete’e told reporters in Osaka. “Speed of ball is just so intense. It’s been a long time. Being in this environment, there’s new faces to the team, there’s new guys, new combinations so it does feel like a whole new squad.”

Taufete’e’s 2019 nomination remains a landmark moment in rugby history. While Pieter-Steph du Toit ultimately claimed the award after helping South Africa win the Rugby World Cup — with Tom Curry, Ardie Savea, Cheslin Kolbe and Alun Wyn Jones also shortlisted — Taufete’e’s inclusion broke a pattern of nominees drawn exclusively from the sport’s traditional powerhouses dating back to Keith Wood in 2001.

The defeat exposed tangible problems for USA head coach Scott Lawrence, even as he praised his side’s “character” and “grit” during a bruising opening 40 minutes. The Eagles won just 64 per cent of their lineouts and missed 23 tackles against a fast-paced Japan side.

“Just from today, we’ve got to work on our details,” Taufete’e said. “We talk about our lineout attack — Japan did really well in their defence. They read us really well and I think that in that area we can get creative.”

The USA now shift their attention to the third-place playoff against Canada in the second weekend of the Pacific Nations Cup 2026, with Lawrence’s squad needing a sharper performance to salvage something from the tournament.