The High School All Americans kick off their five-match tour of South American on Sunday against the Chilean U19 national team in Vina del Mar.

It’s the beginning of a massive challenge, with five games over 14 days.

“We’re very excited,” said Anthony Salabar, who captained Dixon HS to a national invitational title this spring. “It definitely ramps up the excitement when you play for your country and against another national team. The guys have been training hard. I’ve been playing some 7s and other guys have been working hard or playing for select sides. You can tell they’ve done the work.”

Halfback Michael Reid logged some of the high scores in the fitness tests, but that’s only part of it, as the HSAA team will be under some pressure. All the South American teams can scrum, and all can kick. Salabar, who normally plays fullback, is thinking about the kicks.

“Receiving kicks and making the right decisions when they kick is a big thing for us,” he told RUGBYMag.com. “All the South American teams, with their soccer backgrounds, kick well. We want to be able to handle it together as a group.”

“We’re looking to up the level of competition each year,” added Head Coach Salty Thompson, who is looking to take the team to New Zealand in 2013. “Playing an international where they play the anthems, and bring a lot of attention to the games, that’s all part of it.”

Thompson did not select a tour captain before the team left US soil, and could well rotate game day captains. Leadership, he said, is important, but has to be developed.

We’re in the process of developing young men and, we hope, future Eagles,” said Thompson. “And with this tour, through three countries and five games in two weeks, we’re going to need everybody. It’s an excellent opportunity to develop leaders, and see who steps forward as a leader.”