Americas European Pros for 2015/16

Hidden behind the anticipation for the Rugby World Cup in September is the start of the new professional club season in Europe. With many teams already returning to preseason training, the majority of contracts have been wrapped up. Further signings are expected to be minimal until the end of the World Cup pool stages in October. Here is a look at who has signed in the five largest pro leagues in Europe.

Worth noting is the significant number of Argentine players who have returned home to be part of the new Super Rugby franchise that begins next season.

Another large group of players were not retained by their clubs and are still in search of contracts. Examples of this group include Canadian utility back Connor Braid (Glasgow), Argentine prop Juan Pablo Orlandi (Newcastle), and American centre Ronnie McLean (Ealing).

Former Pumas prop Maximiliano Bustos (Montpellier) and Chilean lock Sergio Valdes (Agen) have retired, and Scott LaValla (Stade Français) has left France to pursue a military career. As of yet his future as a rugby player beyond the World Cup is uncertain.

The contract status of Leicester wing Gonzalo Camacho remains unclear, with the club quoted as saying they wished to retain him but as yet no definitive announcement has been made.

Tai Tuisamoa (London Scottish) will not continue in England, but is expected to sign with either Aurillac or Narbonne in the French Pro D2 in the near future.

Newcomers to the professional ranks this year include Canadians Kyle Gilmour (Rotherham) and Aaron Flagg (Moseley); Argentinians Bruno Postiglioni (Zebre), Lucas Martínez (Castres), and Bautista Güemes (Agen); and American lock Christian Ostberg (Aurillac). Another American, Life West centre Mose Fualaau, has joined Clermont Academy.

A number of other Americas players are scattered around smaller professional leagues such as Federale 1, the French third division; Campionato Nazionale Eccellenza (formerly Super 10) in Italy; the Super Liga in Romania; and National League 1, the English third division.

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP
ARG – Horacio Agulla (Bath) – Wing – Jun/2016
ARG – Marcos Ayerza (Leicester) – Prop – Jun/2018
ARG – Marcelo Bosch (Saracens) – Centre – Jun/2017
ARG – Juan Figallo (Saracens) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Mariano Galarza (Gloucester) – Lock – Jun/2016
ARG – Ignacio Mieres (Worcester) – Flyhalf – Jun/2016
ARG – Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle) – Centre – Jun/2018
ARG – Gonzalo Tiesi (Newcastle) – Centre – Jun/2016
CAN – Jebb Sinclair (London Irish) – Flanker – Jun/2016
USA – Eric Fry (Newcastle) – Prop – Jun/2016
USA – Hanco Germishuys (Gloucester) – Flanker – Academy
USA – Titi Lamositele (Saracens) – Prop – Jun/2017* (presumed length)
USA – Hayden Smith (Saracens) – Lock – Jun/2016* (presumed length)
USA – Chris Wyles (Saracens) – Centre – Jun/2016* (presumed length)

GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP
ARG – Gastón Cortes (Bristol) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Martín García Veiga (Jersey) – Hooker – Jun/2016
ARG – Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba (Jersey) – Prop – Jun/2016
CAN – Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates) – Lock – Jun/2017
CAN – Justin Blanchet (Bedford) – Flanker – Jun/2016
CAN – Aaron Carpenter (Cornish Pirates) – Hooker – Jun/2016
CAN – Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates) – Fullback – Jun/2016
CAN – Aaron Flagg (Moseley) – Lock – Jun/2016
CAN – Kyle Gilmour (Rotherham) – Flanker – Jun/2016
CAN – Tyler Hotson (Doncaster) – Lock – Jun/2016
CAN – Jon Phelan (Doncaster) – Lock – Jun/2016
CAN – James Pritchard (Bedford) – Fullback – Jun/2016
CAN – Richard Thorpe (London Welsh) – Flanker – Jun/2016
CHI – Francisco Deformes (Cornish Pirates) – Prop – Jun/2016
TTO – Bevon Armitage (Doncaster) – Centre – Jun/2016
USA – Tom Bliss (Ealing) – Scrumhalf – Jun/2016* (loan from Wasps)
USA – Thretton Palamo (London Welsh) – Centre – Jun/2016* (loan from Wasps)

GUINNESS PRO 12
ARG – Emiliano Coria (Zebre) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Bruno Postiglioni (Zebre) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Guillermo Roan (Zebre) – Prop – Jun/2016
CAN – Tyler Ardron (Ospreys) – No8 – Jun/2017
CAN – Jeff Hassler (Ospreys) – Wing – Jun/2017
CAN – Shane O’Leary (Connacht) – Flyhalf – Jun/2016
CAN – DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets) – Wing – Jun/2017* (presumed length)
USA – Cameron Dolan (Cardiff Blues) – No8 – Jun/2017* (presumed length)
USA – Greg Peterson (Glasgow) – Lock – Jun/2017
USA – Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues) – Wing – Jun/2018* (presumed length)

TOP 14
ARG – Patricio Albacete (Toulouse) – Lock – Jun/2017
ARG – Manuel Carizza (Racing) – Lock – Jun/2017
ARG – Patricio Fernández (Clermont) – Flyhalf – Jan/2017
ARG – Santiago Fernández (Pau) – Flyhalf – Jun/2017
ARG – Juan Fernández Lobbe (Toulon) – Flanker – Jun/2017
ARG – Francisco Gomez Kodela (Bordeaux) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Bautista Güemes (Agen) – Flyhalf – Jun/2017
ARG – Juan Imhoff (Racing) – Wing – Jun/2017
ARG – Lucas Martínez (Castres) – Prop – Dec/2015
ARG – Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres) – Flyhalf – Jun/2017
CAN – Jamie Cudmore (Clermont) – Lock – Jun/2016
CAN – Jason Marshall (Agen) – Prop – Jun/2016
CAN – Taylor Paris (Agen) – Wing – Jun/2017
CAN – Cameron Pierce (Pau) – Lock – Jun/2017
URU – Rodrigo Capó Ortega (Castres) – Lock – Jun/2016
USA – Victor Camptat (Toulon) – Lock – Academy
USA – Mose Fualaau (Clermont) – Centre – Academy
USA – Samu Manoa (Toulon) – No8 – Jun/2019
USA – Dave Ryan (Agen) – Prop – Jun/2017

PRO D2
ARG – Martín Bustos Moyano (Bayonne) – Wing – Jun/2017
ARG – Ariel Castellina (Colomiers) – Prop – Jun/2017
ARG – Agustín Costa Repetto (Tarbes) – Hooker – Jun/2016
ARG – Agustín Figuerola (Lyon) – Scrumhalf – Jun/2018
ARG – Nahuel Lobo (Carcassonne) – Prop – Jun/2017
ARG – Carlos Muzzio (Mont-de-Marsan) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Jerónimo Negrotto (Tarbes) – Prop – Jun/2016
ARG – Damian Panizzo (Colomiers) – Lock – Jun/2016
ARG – Sébastien Poet (Tarbes) – Flyhalf – Jun/2017
ARG – Nicolás Vergallo (Tarbes) – Scrumhalf – Jun/2016
URU – Felipe Berchesi (Carcassonne) – Flyhalf – Jun/2017
URU – Agustín Ormaechea (Mont-de-Marsan) – Scrumhalf – Jun/2016
USA – Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz) – Wing – Jun/2016
USA – Christian Ostberg (Aurillac) – Lock – Jun/2017