Toronto duo make United States squad for World Cup

Toronto Wolfpack stars Ryan Burroughs and Joseph Eichner have both been named in Brian McDermott’s United States squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The pair have both impressed while helping the Wolfpack gain promotion from League 1 to the Championship this year and will have a chance to represent their country at the biggest stage of them all this autumn.

Leeds Rhinos boss McDermott also named 12 players in their squad who ply their trade in USARL’s domestic club competition to step up to international level.

London Broncos ace Mark Offerdahl was the United States captain in the World Cup Qualifiers and is expected to continue the role in the tournament.

Former Wigan Warriors forward Eddy Pettybourne has been named in the squad again after representing the Hawks at the 2013 World Cup while Bureta Faraimo of the New Zealand Warriors will also play a part.

USA 24-man squad: Jonathan Taylor-Alley (Central Florida Warriors), Ryan Burroughs (Toronto Wolfpack), Charles Cortalano (White Plains Wombats), Joseph Eichner (Toronto Wolfpack), Bureta Faraimo (New Zealand Warriors), Gabriel Farley (Philadelphia Fight), Kristian Freed (White Plains Wombats), Daniel Howard (Wentworthville Magpies), Stephen Howard (Mounties), Martwain Johnston (Delaware Black Foxes), Andrew Kneisly (Philadelphia Fight), Corey Makelim (Mounties), Fotukava Malu (Atlanta Rhinos), David Marando (Belrose Eagles), Nicholas Newlin (Atlanta Rhinos), Mark Offerdahl (London Broncos), Eddy Pettybourne (Gold Coast Titans), Joshua Rice (New York Knights), Matthew Shipway (South Newcastle), Samuel Tochtermann-Talbott (Tweed Heads Seagulls), David Ulch (Tampa Mayhem), Taioalo Junior Vaivai (Illawarra Wests Devils), Matthew Walsh (White Plains Wombats).

The United States play their first game of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup against Fiji Bati on Saturday 28 October.