Taufete'e ends three-year USA exile as Eagles open Pacific Nations Cup against Japan

Joe Taufete’e is set to end a three-year absence from Test rugby when he comes off the bench for the USA Eagles in their Pacific Nations Cup opener against Japan in Osaka on Saturday, head coach Lawrence confirming the hooker’s return as the Eagles begin their final preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Taufete’e last wore the red, white and blue in August 2023, but his pedigree remains undeniable. The 33-year-old was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year following the 2019 World Cup in Japan, where he made four appearances — an honour that ultimately went to Springboks flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit after South Africa lifted the trophy.

“I think Joe’s been an enormous influence since he’s been here,” Lawrence told reporters. “Experience is just something you can’t get — you’ve got to live in the trenches a little bit, so Joe’s experience is welcome into the environment. He knows how to play in these big moments and so you trust him to do that.”

Shilo Klein, who started all three July Nations Cup Tests at hooker and retained the No. 2 jersey for the USA XV against an Argentina XV, keeps his place in the starting side for the semi-final. Taufete’e will be joined among the replacement front-rowers by Fakaosifolau Pifeleti and Alex Maughan.

In the loosehead position, Payton Telea-Ilalio earns his first start for the national team in that role, packing down alongside Klein and Tonga Kofe. The prop made three appearances off the bench for the USA last November, including a 34-minute shift away to Scotland, and gained further experience at loosehead for the USA XV last month.

Lawrence framed Telea-Ilalio’s opportunity within a broader squad-building strategy ahead of Australia 2027. “We want to have five capable looseheads going into next year,” he said. “If you think about the overall build to the World Cup, this period now is about developing the depth and having a group of players that can all play to the identity of the team. You’ve got to put them in games — high-pressure games — to see how they go.”

The Pacific Nations Cup features the USA, Canada, Fiji and hosts Japan across two weekends, with the opening matches in Osaka before the third-place playoff and final move to Tokyo the following week. With the World Cup less than 13 months away, the tournament represents a significant opportunity for all four nations to sharpen their squads under genuine competitive pressure.