Luke Carty tipped for US national side after first Major League Rugby start

Athlone's Luke Carty has made his first start for Major League Rugby side LA Giltinis, lining out alongside a number of big names in a thrilling 48-35 win away to the Houston SaberCats last weekend.

The 23-year-old from Barrymore moved to the US earlier this year and was named in the starting team for the game in Texas on Saturday after impressing in two previous cameos off the bench.

Luke is a brother of Connacht and Ireland star Jack Carty, and his new club in Los Angeles pointed out that he could soon be considered for the USA Eagles national side.

"Carty's game management and kicking skills, both out of hand and for goal off the tee, are two of his biggest attributes," said the LA Giltinis' website.

"It's a package of real potential for USA Eagles selectors to keep monitoring because Carty is US-qualified through a grandmother born in New York."

Ahead of last weekend's game, LA Giltinis' head coach Darren Coleman said he had been impressed with Carty to date.

"Luke has been very good in his short bursts off the bench and he's definitely a player of Major League Rugby starting standard," said Coleman.

His high-profile teammates at the LA club include former Australian internationals Adam Ashley-Cooper (37) and Matt Giteau (38), and South African-born Canadian international D.T.H. Van der Merwe (34).

The game against Houston was a free-scoring affair in which Carty kicked two conversions from five attempts.

The LA Giltinis -- the club is named after a cocktail -- will now host San Diego Legion this Saturday.

Fans will be able to return to their home venue, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, for the derby fixture against San Diego.

Sons of Susan and Ted Carty, Jack and Luke are former students of the Marist College, Athlone.