DENVER — The U.S. men's rugby team is scheduled to play Portugal in Denver on Saturday in the opening match of the year as part of the World Rugby Nations Cup. This game marks the first of the year for the team.

Scott Lawrence, the coach of the U.S. men's rugby team, organized sessions that included a talk from two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and competitive flag-folding exercises. "It was important for us to recognize the strength of the diversity of our country," Lawrence said. "The Eagles are, have been and always will be a representation of the diverse nature of our country. You don't see that in a lot of other countries. They may have players that move there young and qualify after five years. That's pretty common in international rugby. But the way our team comes together is much different. It looks like any classroom in the United States. We could have guys speaking French at one table, and two of the staff speaking Spanish, and that's not any different than walking down the street and having a coffee here in Denver. But the thing we all unite behind is the values of the country."

The U.S. team is scheduled to play Zimbabwe and Spain in North Carolina after the Denver match. Last year, the U.S. men's rugby team played England in Washington, losing by 40 points in a match that experienced lightning delays. Portugal previously prevented the U.S. from qualifying for the 2023 World Cup with a draw in Dubai, and this year, Portugal won the Rugby Europe Championship by defeating Georgia.

Most of the Portugal men's rugby team plays for Lusitanos in the Rugby Europe Super Cup, while most of the U.S. men's rugby team plays in Major League Rugby. Major League Rugby recently concluded a six-team season. Anthem RC, a Major League Rugby team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was backed by World Rugby, is set to cease operations after three years.

Perry Mayo, who plays for Nevers in Pro D2 and speaks French, qualifies for the U.S. team through American heritage. "He's been good, he's got X Factor, you know," Lawrence said. "The French, they play differently. It's always good to have another left foot in the back line in terms of the kicking game, and he's played wing, he's played full-back, so he gives us versatility, more options around whether we go 5-3 or 6-2 on the bench ... he throws the ball around. It's not in the American nature, but in the last year we've really needed to train and play messy at times, and he offers a bit of that." Jack Iscaro plays loosehead prop for Stade Français in the Top 14. AJ MacGinty, who plays fly-half for Bristol in England, is currently out with an injury.