Summer International round-up: Genge, MacGinty and Vui all in action

Returning to Bear Country this season, Ellis Genge set the tone throughout England’s victorious summer tour of Australia, with big ball carries and solid defence.

The prop scored in the first match in Perth and went on the rampage during the following two contests, with big memorable hits going in against Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi. Genge’s ball carrying helped open up England’s attack.  

AJ MacGinty, one of the Bears’ new signings for this season, has been in action over the pond, leading the USA in their hunt for World Cup 2023 qualification through the Americas 2 play-off qualifiers. The USA held a slender lead heading into the deciding fixture, having won against Chile away in Santiago at the beginning of July.

The fly-half, who joins the Bears from Sale Sharks, landed three conversions and a penalty in the USA’s loss at home to Chile in Colorado. Chile secured their place in the World Cup on aggregate. The USA now head to the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai at the end of the year.

Chris Vui, who signed a four-year extension with the Bears at the start of 2022, was called up for international duty for Samoa towards the end of June to take part in the Pacific Nations Cup.

The lock forward featured in all three of Samoa’s matches (Australia A, Tonga and Fiji) and helped them come out winners of the tournament, after a dramatic fight back against Fiji in their final match in Lautoka, Fiji.