The USA men's Sevens team will assemble this week at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center (OTC) in California in preparation for the kick-off of the IRB Sevens World Series, in Dubai on 4-5 December.

A portion of the squad met at the OTC on Wednesday, while others will join following the country's Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay on Sunday.

The entire player pool will train for a few more days before the selected 12 fly to Dubai on Thanksgiving Day, 26 November.

"We will narrow down our player pool from 21 to 12 the day before Thanksgiving," said coach Al Caravelli. "We will select a team that will compete not only in Dubai and George (the second event in the World Series on 11-12 December), but throughout the entire season.

"Right now, even at this early stage, this is the best overall camp we have ever had before Dubai.

"I'm very excited about the potential of these athletes. After the first two days of camp, I've had all a coach wants to see.

"Athletes are competing aggressively, but are also bonding very well. It's as if they've known each other for more than two days. The skill level is excellent; the intensity continues to increase at every training session. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the assembly."

Fresh Eagle talent

The Eagles Sevens squad has a remarkable track record in producing national 15-a-side team players - Todd Clever, Chris Wyles, Takudzwa Ngwenya and Paul Emerick to name just a few - and several newcomers will be hoping to similarly transform their young careers.

19-year-old Tyler Spitz, Nick Edwards and Andrew Suniula all take part for the first time, along with others who earned their places in the squad by shining at the September sessions - Mile Pulu, Suli Holani, Dimitri Efthimiou, Clint Whittler, Peter Sio and Ata Malifa.

Leonard Peters also continues his fast-tracked rugby education in Sevens since switching from American football and the NFL.

While some of these newcomers are young enough to have half an eye on playing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, three more seasoned players have also been welcomed back into the squad with open arms: Mark Bokhoven, Matt Hawkins and Shalom Suniula.

"Bok, Hawk and Lome bring that international experience," Caravelli said. "Clearly they have not missed a step and have picked up right where they left off. They also bring those innate leadership qualities to this young squad."

USA Sevens training squad
Cory Blair (Belmont Shore)*
Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians)
Nick Edwards (NYAC)
Dimitri Efthimou (Mystic River)
Tai Enosa (Tempe)
Matt Hawkins (Belmont Shore)
Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore)
Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore)*
Suli Nahaou Unaloto (Bay Barbarians)
Jone Naqica (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Leonard Peters (Aspen)
Mile Pulu (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Trevor Richards (Nebraska)
Volney Rouse (San Francisco Golden Gate)*
Peter Sio (Belmont Shore)
Tyler Spitz (Undetermined)
Andrew Suniula (Pearl City)
Shalom Suniula (Pearl City)
Kevin Swiryn (OPSB)*
Clint Whittler (Belmont Shore)
Kevin Wiggins (Wilmington)

*joining the assembly after the RWCQ