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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Martin Pengelly

‘It’s a big game’: USA and Portugal face off for final Rugby World Cup place

Gary Gold Portugal Rugby World Cup AJ MacGinty Eagles United States Rugby World Cup Greg Peterson Dubai
Greg Peterson, Cam Dolan, Marcel Brache and Paul Lasike of the US Eagles sing their anthem before facing Hong Kong in Dubai.
Greg Peterson, Cam Dolan, Marcel Brache and Paul Lasike of the US Eagles sing their anthem before facing Hong Kong in Dubai. Photograph: Martin Dokoupil/World Rugby/Getty Images

On Friday, USA and Portugal will meet in Dubai for a winner-takes-all Test match, the prize the last place at the Rugby World Cup in France next year. It is by some distance the most important game in the recent history of American rugby.

The US will host the men’s World Cup in 2031 and the women’s tournament two years later. World Rugby has placed a significant bet. Executives are of course neutral but without wishing any ill to the Portuguese, anyone seeking to plant rugby union in the American consciousness will be mighty relieved should the Eagles make it into Pool C with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Georgia.

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