A former South African junior sprint champion who models his game on Brian To’o is set to light up Vegas after being one of three LA Roosters players selected to play for the USA against Scotland.
Shingirai Hlanguyo, who has represented his native Zimbabwe in Rugby Sevens, will join Roosters team-mates Sione Masoe and Esteban Tupuola in a new look Hawks team under former Knights and Storm prop Adam Woolnough.
Hlanguyo was also twice crowned South Africa’s junior 100m champion and won a bronze medal at the All-Africa Youth Championships before accepting an athletics scholarship at California State University. He posted a personal best of 10.52sec in 2022.
“Shingirai has got US residency and has been playing for the LA Roosters,” Woolnough said. “He reminds me of Brian To’o with the headgear, he is short in stature and has a great work ethic.
“He is highly intelligent in terms of rugby league, and I am super excited for him to now get his first cap for the Hawks.”
Masoe, whose uncle Chris played for the All Blacks and father Mika is a former Samoan Olympic boxer, last year became the first LA Roosters player to represent the USA when he made his Test debut against Greece in Las Vegas.
He will be joined this year by Hlanguyo and Tupuola in the Hawks side for the February 27 Test against Scotland Bravehearts.
The Test is part of Rugby League Las Vegas Fesitival 2026, headlined by the Knights-Cowboys and Bulldogs-Dragons season opening NRL fixtures at Allegiant Stadium.
The LA Roosters also have four players – Maiah Alofaituli, Terree Okabe Sydney-Rae Pua and Afiogatagomailelagi Atene Tone – chosen in the USA Women’s team, who will also play Scotland in the international double-header.
Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly welcomed the selection of LA Roosters players in the USA teams – all of whom, with the exception of Masoe, will be making their Test debuts.
“It is fantastic news to see seven of our LA Roosters players make the USA Hawks national teams,” Kelly said.
“Having six debutants capped for the international matches against Scotland is a testament to the great efforts of our coaches and players in Los Angeles over the past year.
“Our vision with creating our LA Roosters club is to promote and develop rugby league pathways in the US and ultimately provide opportunities for talented athletes to make their way to the Sydney Roosters. This is a great step forward for our club in Los Angeles.”
Woolnough, who was appointed to the coaching job in December, has established a selection committee led by USARL head of football Kurt Stocks, which also includes former NRL and Super League forward Cory Paterson, who now lives in Texas.
“Cory has done a bit of work with some of the universities and high schools in Texas as a tackle consultant and he has still got his finger on the pulse in terms of the athletes over there,” Woolnough said.
“To have insights from guys like Cory, who is only recently retired, and Phil Ayres, who has a rugby league and rugby union background and coaches at Belmont Shore High School, has been incredibly important to me.”
Former NRL star Daniel Vidot, who plays for the DC Slayers, is among the senior members of the Hawks team, along with former Toronto Wolfpack centre Ryan Burroughs, who had a stint with the Eels.
Woolnough said that Vidot, who played 114 NRL matches for the Raiders, Dragons, Broncos and Titans as a winger, was set for a move into the forwards.
“Daniel has got a wealth of experience and he has played for the Hawks before. He is incredibly strong and fit, and he knows the game backwards so having Daniel commit and want to be a part of the new program moving forward is an endorsement of what we are trying to achieve,” Woolnough said.
“Ryan will play in the backline. He has a lot of experience and has a glowing endorsement from Cory, who played with Ryan at the Toronto Wolfpack.
“Daniel and Ryan compliment those younger players we are trying to bring along.”
