We’re utterly chuffed to welcome England back across the pond for another transatlantic showdown with the Yanks. Polo, after all, owes much of its American story to the British, who helped bring the sport stateside in the 1800s. England has remained one of Newport’s most enduring international rivals ever since.
Last year, Team USA claimed a commanding 16–10 victory, adding another chapter to a rivalry that has been decades in the making. Now England returns with three familiar faces and one formidable newcomer, ready to turn the tables when the two nations meet again on Saturday, September 5.
The Gentlemen Riders:
Captain Garrie Renucci
Part James Bond, part Evel Knievel, Garrie is no stranger to adventure. When he isn’t captaining polo fields, he’s hurtling down mountains on a snowboard, revving superbikes or taking on ambitious expeditions around the world. He has even scaled Everest to help stage a record-breaking concert and cycled across India and Africa for charity. A property mogul by profession and thrill-seeker by nature, Garrie returns to Newport once again at the helm of Team England.
Jimmy Wood
Polo quite literally runs in Jimmy’s veins. His father was a longtime professional for Prince Charles and a fixture at the prestigious Guards Polo Club, giving Jimmy an upbringing steeped in the sport. Since then, he has competed in some of polo’s most prestigious fixtures around the world. Now returning for his seventh Newport campaign, Jimmy brings experience, pedigree and plenty of familiarity with this transatlantic rivalry.
Josh Cork
A familiar face from Cowdray Park, Josh returns to Newport for his third campaign with Team England. Polo is a family affair for the Corks, with Josh, his brothers and father all deeply involved in the sport. His résumé already includes World Cup competition and seasons played around the globe, including Argentina and New Zealand. After last year’s defeat, he’ll be looking to help England write a different ending this time around.
Josh Dales
A corporate lawyer with an adventurous streak, Josh Dales hails from a cattle farm in the Tasmanian outback of Australia, where years spent working with spirited young show jumpers and polo ponies gave him a natural foundation for the international polo scene. He has since competed in prominent tournaments around the world.
His horsemanship extends well beyond the polo field. In 2024, Dales put his equestrian mettle to the ultimate test as a registered jockey in the legendary Mongol Derby, widely regarded as the longest and toughest horse race in the world, racing across the vast Mongolian steppe.
From Tasmanian cattle country to corporate law, international polo and the Mongol Derby, Dales brings an unusually diverse résumé and plenty of horsepower to his Newport debut.
The Matchday:
On Saturday, September 5, the Newport International Polo Series presented by Turkish Airlines welcomes USA vs England back to the field for one of the season’s most anticipated international contests.
The afternoon takes on a distinctly British flair with this week’s Bridgerton Bouquets theme, inviting guests to embrace a Regency-inspired garden party filled with soft florals, pastel style and plenty of matchday elegance.
Highclere Castle Gin, the Official Gin of the Newport International Polo Series, takes center stage as Match Sponsor, while Brenton Hotel welcomes the visiting English side as Team Sponsor. Guests can also explore sampling stations from Penelope Bourbon and Loyal 9, along with the Aston Martin Boston display and more throughout the grounds.
Gates open at 12 PM, with the first ball hit at 4 PM.
From Britain’s role in bringing polo to America to one of Newport’s longest-running international rivalries, USA vs England brings the story full circle, right where America’s polo story began.