Castleford Tigers’ Tyler Dupree, a three-time England international, has been named to the USA’s 18-man squad that will take on Wales this autumn in an international friendly.
Dupree, whose England caps came in 2023 and 2024, qualifies to play for the United States through his grandfather, who moved to England where Dupree’s mother was born.
Moreover, his uncle, Billy Joe Dupree, won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys back in 1979, something that became a talking point ahead of Wigan Warriors’ 2025 clash in Las Vegas.
Whilst plenty of his former England teammates will head to Australia to compete in this month’s World Cup, Dupree will be representing his heritage as the sole Super League player in the USA’s 18-man squad to take on Wales.
That game will be played on Saturday, 17th October at the Wern in Merthyr Tydfil, with tickets available via Wales Rugby League, who have also named a squad.
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Two Super League players named to USA squad
Dupree is not the only notable name in the USA squad. His Castleford teammate George Hill is also included and then there is also Peter Lupton, the 44-year-old playmaker who currently plays for the New York Knights, and last played in Super League back in 2011.
Lupton, who was born in Cumbria, represented London Broncos, Hull FC, Castleford Tigers and Crusaders during his Super League playing days, before returning to Cumbria when he would retire in 2015.
He’d then start his second career, joining Boston Thirteens as a player-coach in 2021 following his 2016 move stateside and he’s since qualified to represent them on the international stage through residency.
Interestingly, Lupton is a former Welsh international, so the veteran will be going up against a nation he represented on seven occasions.
Other notable names in the USA squad include ex-Castleford Tigers man Bureta Faraimo as well as his Doncaster teammate Isaac Misky.
USA 18-man Squad to face Wales
Anson Jiang, Tevita Bryce, Peter Lupton (all New York Knights), Ethan Kenneth Povey, Esteban Tupuola, Shingirai Hlanguyo (all Los Angeles Roosters), Tyler Dupree, George Hill (both Castleford Tigers), Bureta Faraimo, Isaac Misky (both Doncaster RLFC), Wes Piggins (Sarasota Bull Sharks), Joseph Eichner, Mathhew Finnesy (both Tampa Mayhem), Jason Martin, Kyle McCollum, Ryan Charles Palmer Lea’aetoa Bannerot (all Jacksonville Axemen), Taylor Jordan, Daniel Vidot (both DC Cavalry)
