The Red Rose kept their tour record perfect on Saturday night as they produced an emphatic win over the United States, winning 5-40. The rugby was not the primary spectacle of the evening, though, as the notoriously temperamental DC weather reared its head. Kick-off was delayed by an hour after lightning was reported in the area, before the first half was then disrupted by a further 40-minute stoppage.
But England rose above the chaos, remaining composed throughout as they cruised to a comfortable win. Six debutants graced the pitch on the night, with Arthur Clark, Joe Carpenter, and Max Ojomohe all named in the starting lineup. Charlie Atkinson and Oscar Beard both impressed off the bench. But it was Gabriel Oghre who had perhaps the best afternoon of the group as he scored England’s sixth and final try of the night.
The hosts got their own back late on, scoring through Shilo Klein on the last play of the game to dodge a shutout by the skin of their teeth. While they showed some good flashes, the Eagles were roundly outclassed throughout the night.
USA vs England latest news
- TRY! England run away with it after halftime
- TRY! Murley adds another after delay
- TRY! England make it 14 through Northmore
- TRY! Langdon opens the scoring
- Kick-off time: 10.05pm BST, Audi Field
- How to watch for FREE
MATCH REPORT
02:24 , Arthur FerridgeEngland overcame a pair of lengthy weather delays to cruise to a comfortable win over the United States on Saturday night.
Read up on the action with Standard Sport’s match report HERE.
FULL TIME: USA 5-40 England
01:42 , Arthur FerridgeA few hours later than was scheduled, that does it at Audi Field. A one-sided outing as the tourists continue their winning run.
TRY! USA 5-40 England
01:41 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Klein pulls back a consolation for the US.
USA 0-40 England
01:39 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: England lose the scrum and the hosts break. They are desperate to get on the board here.
USA 0-40 England
01:38 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: You wouldn’t know its last play - these lads are still pulling out some crunching tackles! England have a scrum here, and you would expect them to kick it to touch afterwards.
USA 0-40 England
01:37 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: JP Smith takes a quick tap from the penalty, and promptly knocks it on.
USA 0-40 England
01:36 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Feyi-Waboso gets rocked by Poidevin. That sounded sore.
TRY! USA 0-40 England
01:32 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Gabriel Oghre of the Bears gets in on the fun. England win their lineout, and Oghre peels off the back of the maul to crash over the line for a debut try.
USA 0-33 England
01:31 , Arthur Ferridge74mins: England enjoy a free hit after the US front row again collapse in the scrum. Evidently fatigued, their attack goes nowhere, and we come back for a penalty. They boot into the corner and will attack from about 10m.
USA 0-33 England
01:29 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Fricker loses the ball in contact and Feyi-Waboso recovers it, but England can’t do much with the possession.
USA 0-33 England
01:26 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Oscar Beard is caught unawares by an offload and takes a pass on the chin. England are let off, though, as they were carrying an advantage.
TRY! USA 0-33 England
01:19 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: England, for the second time tonight, score immediately after a restart. Feyi-Waboso hits a gap with blistering pace from the lineout, drawing both remaining defenders before setting up Harry Randall to walk in another try.
USA 0-26 England
01:16 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Oscar Beard comes on to join the ranks of the debutants.
USA 0-26 England
01:14 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Coles charges down Smith’s box kick, but the ball is into touch and the US will retain possession at the lineout.
USA 0-26 England
01:12 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Scratch that, the TMO has had words and flagged an off-the-ball tackle. We have a penalty to England instead of a US scrum. US captain Bonasso is pleading his case to no avail.
USA 0-26 England
01:11 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Two knock-ons in quick succession result in a scrum to the hosts.
USA 0-26 England
01:10 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: England take a more patient approach to their latest attack, hitting out a handful of phases in the left channel to push the US back a few inches at a time. Ford then lofts a cross-field boot to Feyi-Waboso, but Fricker beats him to the punch.
USA 0-26 England
01:08 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: England’s pace is remarkable - they go through the gears and come forward at pace from a scrum, but Fricker forces Curry into a knock-on to neuter the pressure.
USA 0-26 England
01:05 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: Ben Curry enters the fray for England.
USA 0-26 England
01:05 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: The weather delays seem to have taken a toll on the attendance figures. Even from kick-off it didn’t look like the sell-out crowd we were promised, but there are now a huge number of empty seats around the ground.
USA 0-26 England
01:04 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Ford is on another level here, pulling the strings! He plays a cheeky chip from the 5m line to put the US under pressure, but De Haas is unfortunately the closest player. He pounds a clearance well into the England half from his own in-goal.
USA 0-26 England
01:02 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: The US have made some changes and they seem to have had an effect! England are under the cosh as Fa’anana-Schultz breaks the line. They are let off as the player fails to release, though.
USA 0-26 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:59 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: The US are growing back into it after looking slightly sluggish out of the changing rooms.
TRY! USA 0-26 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:56 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Well, that didn’t take long! Cunningham-South makes the go-ahead hit to put the US in trouble, and a flowing attack down the wing has Van Poortvliet in for a straightforward one. This could be a long half of rugby for the hosts.
USA 0-19 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:54 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: England recover their kick-off and look to score a matter of seconds into the half, but Murley doesn’t quite have the wheels to catch up to the grubber.
2ND HALF: USA 0-19 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:53 , Arthur FerridgeWe are back underway for the second half, about an hour after the match was supposed to have finished.
But all signs suggest that the lightning is behind us, so - touch wood - we should be able to get through this without any more delays.
TRY: USA 0-19 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:38 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Carpenter breaks the line and picks up some crucial meters for England. A couple of phases later, Murley is back on the ball and redeems his earlier knock-on, cutting in off the flank to beat two men and dot down one last try to end the half. Ford’s extras bend just wide to take us to halftime.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:36 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: Besag gets on the ball on the right wing for the US and looks to kick through, but leathers his effort well beyond the byline. We come back for an England scrum in last play.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:34 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: England kick their penalty into the right corner but cannot convert the lineout. They wouldn’t mind a try before packing up this extended first half.
TRY DISALLOWED! USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:33 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: England have another try disallowed! Murley gets free on the left wing but cannot collect his grubber as he is caught by three blue-shirted defenders. But there is Joel Carpenter on debut to pick up the pieces and score England’s third of the day!
Murley is deemed to have knocked the ball on in that melee, though. He knew nothing about it, but it is a fair enough decision. England will keep possession, though, as they had a penalty advantage.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:29 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Incredible! Cunningham-South has come out of the changing rooms with a mission - he works his way around a US maul to rip possession from Tevita Naqali.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:28 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Hilsenbeck breaks the lines but is humbled by a no-nonsense recovery tackle from Cunningham-South. The US crack on and Fricker kicks away to Murley. Murley kicks back to the American, but catches him high and is penalised.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:26 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: England are clearly struggling to warm back up - another handling error hands possession back to the US.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:25 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: So close for England! They assault the try line but the ball pops out. Van Poortvliet dives on the loose ball and dots it down, but that is quite a clear knock-on in the buildup.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:23 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Ford kicks to the corner and England maul from the lineout, but a knock-on scuppers their efforts as they look to attack the try-line.
The US kick away, and England go again.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:22 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: The scrum collapses and England are handed the penalty.
USA 0-14 England
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:21 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: After a 40-minute break, we are back underway in DC.
We will restart with a USA scrum in their own half.
Players are back out
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:19 , Arthur FerridgeThe players are warming up again, for the third time this evening. Play will restart in two minutes.
RESTART CONFIRMED
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:11 , Arthur FerridgeCommentator’s curse, there.
The match will get back underway at 00:21pm BST.
Weather report
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:10 , Arthur FerridgeWe still do not know when this will get back underway, but the skies appear to be lightening at Audi Field.
Weather update
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:54 , Arthur FerridgeAs previously reported, the regulation is generally that play should be suspended for half an hour after a lightning strike. Therefore, the earliest we could get back underway 00:10 BST.
We await updates.
Weather update
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:48 , Arthur FerridgeWell then folks, its that time again. I am donning my meteorologist’s hat, if such a thing exists.
My old friend the weather app reports that a flood watch is in effect until 10pm local time, which will be 3am BST.
Rain is expected to continue for at least the next hour, with thunder expected until 10pm local time. This match may not get back underway at all...
Stay tuned for all the latest updates as soon as they come in!
PLAY SUSPENDED! USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:42 , Arthur FerridgeIt all seemed to be going so well...
Lightning is detected in the area, and we have another weather delay.
TRY DISALLOWED! USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:41 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Dombrandt is deemed to have bound onto the ripper as he came off the maul before scoring, so the call is ‘obstruction’ and the try will not stand.
TRY! USA 0-19 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:39 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: What did I tell you? England take the lineout and it falls to Dombrandt, who drops a shoulder and batters through the McLean like he isn’t even there.
But wait - there’s a TMO review...
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:38 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: Ford drills a penalty kick about 45m into the corner, and England are in touching distance of a third try.
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:36 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: The US make an absolute hash of playing away from the rotated scrum, but the referee lets them off as he hands England a penalty - he says England didn’t drive straight.
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:35 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: A little dink Murley has Fricker scrambling, but there is another knock on in the build-up and we are pulled back again. In possession, England look fantastic - they are free-flowing and have the US on the back foot.
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:33 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Hilsenbeck is back on the pitch after serving his sin-bin.
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:32 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: England players are all cooling off with ice packs during the hydration break. Tells you all you need to know about the humidity here.
HELD UP! USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:31 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Remarkable! The US take another close range lineout and England hit the beach - that is as good a goalline defence as you will ever see. Say what you want about the state of the US attack, but England locked that down in remarkable fashion.
USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:29 , Arthur Ferridge21mins: Ojomoh is lucky to get away without a booking here as he is penalised for a neckroll.
TRY! USA 0-14 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:27 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: That is truly as simple as it gets. England take their 5m scrum and it is a training ground move as they flow in unchallenged for a second try of the evening. Northmore takes the spoils, and the kick is good.
Meanwhile, it looks mighty dark at Audi Field. Let’s hope that rain holds off.
HELD UP! USA 0-7 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:26 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: England win a huge turnover on half-way and kick long. Feyi-Waboso turns up the gas and rocks the backtracking Pittman. He looks to offload but only finds a white shirt in his panic, but Fricker recovers to prevent the grounding.
USA 0-7 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:22 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Feyi-Waboso fumbles a routine catch in the England backfield, handing the US a scrum on the 10m line.
TRY, CONVERSION! USA 0-7 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:20 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: England open the scoring! It is a textbook set-piece try - lineout, into maul, into five points on the board. Curtis Langdon is the man responsible, and Ford drills the extras. The tourists take an early lead after their first proper spell in possession.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:18 , Arthur Ferridge11minsL England look to maul in from the attacking lineout, and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz collapses the maul to give England another shot.
YELLOW CARD: USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:18 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: England finally find their flow in possession and Van Poortvliet’s pick-and-go has the US on the back foot.
As England flow out to the right wing, the fly-half Hilsenbeck bats the ball down and is booked for a deliberate knock-on. A professional foul, you could say, but the Eagles are a man down for the next ten minutes.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:16 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: A USA knock has the Roses back on the ball, and again England kick away.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:15 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: A crucial steal for England! Clark poaches the lineout and England kick to safety.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:14 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: The Eagles kick to the corner and look to maul in, but England are penalised again after the maul comes down!
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:13 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: The US take their scrum and spin the ball out wide, making some good progress as they shift back to the opposite wing. Another penalty goes against England.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:11 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: The US enjoy a healthy spell in possession. De Haas opts to kick away, though, and England are back on the ball. Ford kicks wide to Feyi-Waboso and some classy wing play has Dombrandt in for a try, but it is pulled back for a forward pass.
USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:08 , Arthur Ferridge1min: The hosts kick off, and England collect routinely before Van Poortvliet hoofs the ball away. They chase down to the far end and recover possession on the USA 22, but promptly lose it to a penalty - not releasing.
KICK-OFF: USA 0-0 England
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:07 , Arthur FerridgeFor those of you who are still with us after that delay, we are underway in Washington DC!
Here come the teams
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:02 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads are out at Audi Field.
England are in their traditional all-white get-up, while the USMNT don navy blue, head to toe.
Atmosphere building
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:56 , Arthur FerridgeAfter a concerningly brief warmup, both squads head back to the changing rooms.
An hour or so later, kick-off is now just nine minutes away.
What now?
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:51 , Arthur FerridgePlayers are out and beginning their warm-ups.
The one-hour delay to kick-off will certainly have upset some pre-match routines, as both squads will now be rushing to get ready. Let’s hope we don’t see any injuries as a result of the shortened preparations.
And to get everyone really revved up for this Test fixture, the Audi Field DJ whips out a classic hype tune: Rolling in the Deep, by Adele.
I can’t say it features on my gym playlist, but each to their own. Its nearly game time!
NEW KICK-OFF TIME CONFIRMED
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:46 , Arthur FerridgeThe match will get underway at 6pm local time, or 11pm BST.
Weather latest
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:43 , Arthur FerridgeThis is big, ladies and gentlemen. Fans are being allowed back into the stadium!
All were evacuated to the concourse when the delay was initially announced, so it looks like we could soon be getting underway!
Weather latest
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:30 , Arthur FerridgeIt is now 15 minutes since thunder was last heard at Audi Field, which bodes well.
The view from the concourse, though, reveals some low, dark clouds, which does not bode so well.
A new kick-off time is yet to be confirmed. More follows.
What does this remind you of?
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:24 , Arthur FerridgeAnyone who followed the Club World Cup, which was also hosted in the United States, will remember that several matches suffered lengthy weather delays.
Chelsea’s round of 16 meeting with Benfica was called off with just minutes remaining in regular time, prompting a two-hour pause.
The match then went to extra time, lasting close to five hours end-to-end by the time Chelsea emerged victors.
"For 85 minutes we were in control of the game," Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said. "After the break, the game changed completely. For me it's not football. It's already seven, eight, nine games that they suspended.
"I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football. It's not for us. You cannot be inside. I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably [this] is not the right place to do this competition."
Anyway, let’s hope this evening’s delay is not so drawn out. Fingers crossed, touch wood, insert your superstition of choice...
Elsewhere on Standard Sport
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:19 , Arthur FerridgeYou might have heard of a boxing event happening slightly closer to home tonight.
Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are now in the ring ahead of their hotly anticipated rematch, with the undisputed world heavyweight championship on the line. The first bells are imminent...
You can follow all the action LIVE right here with Standard Sport!
Weather latest
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:13 , Arthur FerridgeThe thunder is continuing at Audi Field, which does not bode well for any fan in the UK who was hoping to catch an early night.
How to kill time during a weather delay?
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:11 , Arthur FerridgeWhile we all sit around chewing gum and twiddling our thumbs, why not catch up on a bit of rugby news from Standard Sport’s reporters?
There was the small matter of the Lions’ first Australia Test this morning.
Catch up on all the action with Standard Sport’s match report HERE.
See what Maro Itoje had to say after the fact HERE.
Andy Farrell spoke strongly about his team selection at full time, too. See what he had to say HERE.
Weather report from Audi Field
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:02 , Arthur FerridgeStandard Sport is pleased to share that it is not currently raining at Audi Field and the skies are not looking quite as angry as they did a few minutes ago. If anything, its quite sunny.
But the drawback is that thunder remains audible. The general rule is that no on-pitch action can take place until a full half hour passes without incident.
Those familiar with the summer climate in DC will know that these micro-thunderstorms are quite common and can come and go in a matter of minutes.
For now, though, the below message remains on the jumbotron.
While we wait
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:56 , Arthur FerridgePlease enjoy more photos from the curtain-raiser, where USA women beat Fiji 31-24.
Weather update
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:50 , Arthur FerridgeEngland Rugby confirm kick-off has been delayed by 30 minutes, though that could be extended if lightning remains in the area
I’m no meteorologist - there’s a very good reason I write about rugby for a living - but having broken out the old weather app, I can confirm that there are ‘isolated thunderstorms’ in the DC area, which is not uncommon at this time of year.
Rain is due to stop within 20 minutes, but more storms are expected at 7pm local time.
The USA v England game at Audi Field, Washington DC, has been delayed for 30 minute due to weather.#USAvENG pic.twitter.com/fW22JpoTFb
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 19, 2025
KICKOFF DELAYED
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:42 , Arthur FerridgeFans of the Club World Cup are going to love this one...
Kick-off at Audi Field has been delayed indefinitely due to inclement weather.
Sit tight, folks. We could be here for a while.
Arthur Clark ready for debut
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:35 , Arthur FerridgeArthur Clark will make his full England debut tonight, four decades on from his father Barry doing the same.
Speaking to Sportsbeat, the 23-year-old Gloucester star said it was the best moment of his career to date.
“It’s the highlight of my career – it’s something that you look for and is constantly in your mind. That’s the end goal – to make your debut for your country.
“This is my first sort of exposure in the first team – you learn little bits and bobs, learning off Steve, Charlie Ewels, who is one of the more experienced forwards. There’s so much in terms of picking up things for you to take back to your club – it’s great.
“You do have bonds with people as you’ve played against them – bonds got built quickly and the learning began. They bounce off me and I bounce off them – it’s become a really tight group and it’s amazing how fun this tour has been off the pitch too. It’s been amazing.”
Is USA rugby on the up and up?
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:30 , Arthur FerridgeThe US is certainly on an upward trajectory when it comes to rugby. The country was at best apathetic to the sport just a few years ago, but the community of players and fans is fast growing.
The United States will host both the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033.
Discussing World Cup plans at an event this week, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said: “This is a perfect moment to honor those not just who are playing now but those who are laying a trail and creating a bold new future.
“And let us be clear, these Rugby World Cups in the USA will not just be historical games. They’ll grow the game’s reach, they’ll grow the game’s impact, they’ll grow the game’s values, not only here in the US but across the world.”
The mood at the stadium
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:21 , Arthur FerridgeA bumper crowd is expected at Audi Field today.
England will be playing in front of 20,000 or so hostile home supporters who have braved the notorious DC humidity to come out and support the Eagles.
And the ground is already packed out...
USA rugby form
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:20 , Arthur FerridgeWe all know England are coming into this match fresh off the back of back-to-back wins over Argentina, but what of their hosts?
They have won four of their last five matches, most recently downing Belgium in a one-sided encounter in Charlotte. They last tasted defeat away to Samoa back in September.
Here are their last five results:
- USA 36-17 Belgium
- Spain 23-26 USA
- USA 36-17 Tonga
- Portugal 17-21 USA
- Samoa 18-13 USA
One more note on the USWNT
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:06 , Arthur FerridgeThis United States side, of course, features Ilona Maher, arguably the best known rugby player in the world.
She has enjoyed a seamless transition from 7s to 15s, and will star at the World Cup.
She was named ‘Best Breakout Athlete’ at the ESPYs earlier this week, and her acceptance speech is well worth a watch if you haven’t already seen it.
Watch Ilona Maher's full speech after receiving the 2025 ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete 🏉 pic.twitter.com/Z1Q6FapjYj
— espnW (@espnW) July 17, 2025
USA women eek out a narrow curtainraiser win
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:04 , Arthur FerridgeThe first match of the day has come to a close, and the USA women squeeze past Fiji, winning 31-24.
They have one more friendly to come before heading to England for the World Cup, against Canada in early August. They will then face the Red Roses in the tournament’s blockbuster opening fixture at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Steve Borthwick previews the Test
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:50 , Arthur FerridgeEngland head coach Steve Borthwick knows that, despite the ranking disparity, the USA will be no pushovers. He hopes a quality performance will allow England to end the tour on a high note.
He said: “We know the USA will present a tough challenge. There’s been a great spirit in the squad throughout this tour. The players have worked hard for each other and pushed standards every day. Those selected this weekend have earned their chance through their effort and attitude.
“We aim to keep building the squad, learn from every experience, and deliver a performance that our supporters can be proud of.”
What to know about Major League Rugby
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:40 , Arthur FerridgeProfessional rugby in the United States has had a fairly fraught history.
The game is slowly growing, driven by ex-pats and a devout community of fans, but remains quite firmly in the shadow of the NFL and NHL, which rather dominate the contact sports market.
Major League Rugby was launched in 2018 after its predecessor, PRO Rugby, folded two years prior. The current iteration features 11 teams nationwide, with the New England Free Jacks being the most recent champions.
No two seasons have featured the same crop of teams as several franchises within MLR have gone bust, relocated, or been forcibly dissolved (yes, really). Those familiar with the league still consider it to be a startup, and, slowly but surely, the game is growing.
The league was founded with an eye to developing American players and, subsequently, improving the national team. Today, we will see whether that effort has paid off.
What the occasion means
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:31 , Arthur FerridgeThis is a big day for American rugby. Before the men face one of their biggest tests in recent memory against England, the United States women’s national side are playing Fiji in a warmup for the World Cup, which kicks off in August.
They led 26-14 at half-time.
The US are set to play in the World Cup curtain-raiser in August, facing England’s Red Roses at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
Head to head
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:25 , Arthur FerridgeTonight will be the eighth time these sides have met, and England are as yet unbeaten by the Eagles.
Their most recent meeting ended in a 43-29 England win.
A guy called Marcus Smith made his debut and kicked a few conversions. I wonder what became of him?
Standard Sport prediction
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:15 , Arthur FerridgeDespite their almost wholesale changes and more debuts, in-form England should sign off for the summer with an emphatic seventh consecutive win this weekend.
Confidence is sky-high after the Pumas were tamed so impressively despite that missing Lions contingent, while the USA are in a tough moment having lost to Spain for the first time last weekend.
Per England Rugby’s official stats, a dramatic 30-29 victory over Scotland in Houston in 2018 was their only win in their last 43 games against Six Nations opposition, while they have lost every match against England by an average margin of 36.1 points.
All signs point towards a comfortable victory for the visitors and plenty of tries.
England to win, 42-12
USA team news and squad
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:05 , Arthur FerridgeThis USA side also features a pair of international debutants in prop Ezekiel Lendenmuth and wing Rufus McLean, both of the Houston Sabrecats.
The squad is predominantly made up of Major League Rugby players. Captain Benjamin Bonasso represents the Miami Sharks.
Some eyebrows have been raised by the omission of Jack Iscaro - the DC native is a poster boy for USA rugby, but is relegated to the bench tonight.
USA XV: Lindenmuth*, Geiger, Davis, Redelinghuys, Naqali, Bonasso (c), Daniel, Fa’Anana-Schulz, De Haas, Hilsenbeck, Fricker, Pittman, Besag, McLean*, Storti
Replacements: Klein, Iscaro, Kofe, Helu, Poidevin, Alikhan, Smith, Futi
England team news and squad
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:55 , Arthur FerridgeIt is a rotated side for this evening as Steve Borthwick hands debuts to a number of young Roses.
Only three of those who started the previous Argentina test (Ford, Northmore, Coles) return to the XV.
Feyi-Waboso returns having served his two-game suspension. He will make his full England debut alongside Carpenter, Pepper, and Ojomoh.
Off the bench, Atkinson, Beard, and Blamire could also make their first England appearances.
England XV: Carpenter*; Feyi-Waboso, Northmore, Ojomoh*, Murley; Ford (c), Van Poortvliet; Rodd, Langdon, Opoku-Fordjour; Coles, Clark*; Cunningham-South, Pepper, Dombrandt
Replacements: Oghre, Baxter, Davison, Hill, B Curry, Randall, C Atkinson, Beard
What time is kick-off?
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:35 , Arthur FerridgeUSA vs England takes place tonight, Saturday July 19, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 10:05pm BST. That is 5:05pm local time.
The match will take place at the 20,000-capacity Audi Field in Washington D.C., the home of football clubs D.C. United and Washington Spirit.
How to watch USA vs England for FREE!
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:31 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: The game is not being shown on television in the UK.
Live stream: Instead, live coverage is available to watch online via the official England Rugby YouTube channel and World Rugby’s streaming service RugbyPass TV, which is free with a sign-up.
The England Rugby YouTube stream will go live at 9:50pm.
Live blog: Follow all the action RIGHT HERE with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Good evening
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:27 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of USA vs England!
Its rugby day in Washington DC, and we will be treated to some debuts this afternoon.
Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates, expert analysis, and all the latest news from Audi Field.
