Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The June test series for the Americas looks all but complete with multiple sources indicating that Georgia will play Canada, the USA, and Argentina during the June international window. Originally proposed as a trip to South America, the Lelos will now face tougher competition with the North Americans replacing Brazil and Uruguay.
Having completed a first just a year ago with a clean sweep of the Pacific Islands – Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa – last June, the 12th-ranked Lelos will face the three highest-ranked Americas teams in succession for the first time, having twice previously toured North America and traveling to Argentina once before.
Canada and the USA will each have four matches together as opposed to three, with a change in schedule seeing the 2019 World Cup qualifying series moved up from August to June/July to ensure player release and give the teams sufficient lead-in to the important two-match series. The Eagles will host the second leg – tentatively scheduled for July 1 – having maintained a higher ranking spot through the November test window. The winners of the all-important qualifying series will immediately qualify for Japan 2019, while the losers will have to chance their arm in the increasingly difficult repechage bracket.
Meanwhile Brazil has a full three-match June test series for the first time with Portugal, Belgium, and the Cook Islands all lined up. The Cooks will also stop in Mexico on their way to Brazil.
Uruguay will again participate in the Nations Cup, with the tournament to be played in Montevideo for the first time with regular hosts Romania embarking on their own tour instead. Also included in the tournament is the Argentina XV.
AMERICAS JUNE FIXTURES (to be confirmed)
June 10 – Argentina vs England – Santa Fe
June 10 – Brazil vs Portugal – tba
June 10 – Canada vs Georgia – tba
June 10 – USA vs Ireland – tba
June 17 – Argentina vs England – San Juan
June 17 – Brazil vs Belgium – tba
June 17 – Canada vs Romania – tba
June 17 – Mexico vs Cook Islands – tba
June 17 – USA vs Georgia – tba
June 24 – Argentina vs Georgia – tba
June 24 – Brazil vs Cook Islands – tba
June 24 – Canada vs USA – RWCQ – tba
July 1 – USA vs Canada – RWCQ – tba
NATIONS CUP (all matches Montevideo)
June 10 – Namibia vs Spain
June 10 – Argentina XV vs Russia
June 10 – Uruguay vs Emerging Italy
June 14 – Namibia vs Emerging Italy
June 14 – Argentina XV vs Spain
June 14 – Uruguay vs Russia
June 18 – Namibia vs Russia
June 18 – Uruguay vs Spain
June 18 – Argentina XV vs Emerging Italy
