The USA national Rugby Union team continue their end-of-year Test series with a match thousands of miles away from home – but their opponents are also in the same boat as the Eagles face off against Pacific Island powerhouses Tonga from the Chambery Savoie Stadium in southeastern France.
The Eagles have had a mixed 2024 campaign since missing out on qualifying for last year's World Cup, with just two wins from seven matches so far. Scotland, Japan and Fiji all proved a step too far, but the US did return to winning ways with a 21-17 victory over World Cup fan-favourites Portugal in Coimbra, thanks to Kapeli Pifeleti's late try, three minutes before the hooter.
Tonga have also had an up-and-down year on the international front, seeing some big scorelines racked up in their five Tests of 2024 so far. Italy, Samoa and Fiji all ran riot to comfortably beat the Ikale Tahi over the summer, with Spain also recording a famous 29-20 victory in July before the Tongans finally got back to winning ways with a 30-17 triumph over Canada last time out.
As the Eagles look to build on their return to form in their penultimate match of the year, can they prevent Tonga from making it back-to-back wins over North American opposition? Either way, AllSportsPeople has all the TV, live streaming and scheduling info you'll need to keep up with the action from this international Rugby Union Test.
How to watch USA vs. Tonga: TV channel, live stream
- TV Channel: –
- Live Stream: FloRugby, RugbyPass TV
While this match isn't being shown on free-to-air or cable TV in the US, Rugby fans can still tune into the action either live or on catch-up with FloRugby, who have full access to all of the sport's biggest competitions across the globe, including the Autumn internationals and the Top 14 league in France, where this game is being played.
RugbyPass TV, an official arm of World Rugby, are also streaming the action live from Chambery for subscribers.
What time is USA vs. Tonga international Rugby Union Test?
This international Rugby Union Test match between the USA and Tonga takes place at 5:30 p.m. Local time (CET) on Saturday, November 16, 2024, with the game being held at the neutral venue of the Chambery Savoie Stadium in Chambery, France.
Here's how that kick-off time translates for Rugby fans across all the major timezones in the US:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Saturday, November 16 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Central Time | Saturday, November 16 | 10:30 a.m. |
| Mountain Time | Saturday, November 16 | 9:30 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Saturday, November 16 | 8:30 a.m. |
USA vs. Tonga lineups, team news
Eagles coach Scott Lawrence names an unchanged starting XV from their 21-17 win over Portugal last weekend, with try-scorers Paddy Ryan and Nate Augspurger retaining their places at Number 8 and left-wing respectively, as does goal-kicking fly-half AJ MacGinty. The US' three changes all come on the bench, with winning scorer Kapeli Pifeleti joined by tighthead prop Paul Mullen, back rower Mikey Grandy and winger Mark O'Keefe amongst the replacements.
USA starting XV: Mitch Wilson, Conner Mooneyham, Dominic Besag, Tavite Poleti, Nate Auspurger, AJ MacGinty, Ruben de Haas; Jack Iscaro, Shilo Klein, Alex Maughan, Jason Damm, Greg Peterson, Vili Helu, Cory Daniel, Paddy Ryan.
USA replacements: Kapeli Pifeleti, Jake Turnbull, Paul Mullen, Tomas Casares, Mikey Grandy, Ethan McVeigh, Mark O'Keefe, Luke Carty.
The Ikale Tahi make three changes to their run-on side though, with some headline returnees all coming into the XV. None more so than captain Ben Tameifuna, who packs down at tighthead prop with Tau Koloamatangi switching over to loosehead. Semisi Paea is also in at second-row, while Tima Fainga'anuku – brother of All Blacks winger Leicester – starts on the left edge after only getting eight minutes in the 25-15 defeat to Romania last weekend.
Tonga starting XV: William Havili, Taniela Filimone, Fine Inisi, Fetuli Paea, Tima Fainga'anuku, Patrick Pellegrini, Aisea Halo; Tau Koloamatangi, Samiuela Moli, Ben Tameifuna, Semisi Paea, Harison Mataele, Tupou Afungia, Sione Talitui, Lotu Inisi.
Tonga replacements: Sefo Sakalia, Salesi Tu'ifua, Paula Latu, Justin Mataele, Tevita 'Ahokovi, Siaosi Nginingini, Josiah Unga, Posai Tonga.
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