Trautwein, Stroble Added to Australia Tour

(Berkeley, California) 15 July 1999 -- Backs Ben Trautwein and Dave Stroble have been added to the USA's Australian tour party, while veteran flanker Richard Tardits has pulled out with an injury.

Both 1998 All-Americans, the two newcomers will have to get up to speed quickly, in time to face two of Australia's powerful state sides as well as to contribute to the Eagles' ongoing World Cup preparations.

Tardits's withdrawal will be covered by the return of Rob Lumkong and Dougald Gillies.

Trautwein and Stroble can each play two positions, a welcome quality given the recent cluster of injuries and unavailability that has hit the US backline. A 1998 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Trautwein plays wing and fullback and has previously represented the US at international 7s. Currently a 2d lieutenant at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, he played for the Combined Services at the 1998 Inter-Territorial Tournament.

Stroble, who plays wing and flyhalf, just finished a season with for Paris' Maison Lafitte club. For next season, he will transfer to famous Paris University, or PUCH. Stroble is a 1998 graduate of the University of California.

Flyhalf Mark Williams and center Mark Scharrenberg are injured and not touring Australia, while flyhalves Ian Stevens and Andre Bachelet are unavailable.

Tardits, with 20 caps, was injured against Samoa and failed a fitness test prior to departure. Lumkong, with 25 caps, missed the Epson Cup with a knee injury but has been pronounced ready to play. Gillies, with 2 caps, played against Tonga but then missed the rest of the season.

The short tour opens with Emerging New South Wales on July 21, before moving on to Queensland on July 24.

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Scott Compton
USA National Rugby Team
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