Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
We’ve gone through the tight five (front row / second row) already, and now it’s time to have a look at the most competitive area in the Americas teams, the loose forwards. Often the spot to find a team’s best rugby players, American sides North and South always have a horde of quality athletes to choose from on the flank. Of course the competition for spots on professional clubs is just as fierce, which makes it difficult for top back row players to move abroad and they are often instead used as sevens players to enhance their domestic funding.
As with the second row, the traditional role of blind- and open-side flankers is not strictly adhered to by the Americas. Argentina and Uruguay tend to select players of similar qualities on both sides, while USA and Canada have used both methods of selection in recent years. While a loose estimation of where a player might be used in a traditional model is used below, there are several who are equally at home on either flank, or indeed at the back of the scrum or in some cases in the second row.
Disclaimer:
These are not official depth charts, but attempt to replicate recent selection history as closely as possible. In virtually every case, an absent player who might currently be more appropriate shares the same status – pro or amateur – as the player included. Players included are those considered for the World Cup. In some cases those players have since retired from international rugby. Players are listed by their most recent club affiliation.
It’s important to note that some ‘amateur’ players in the Americas are not entirely unpaid. Some players receive a monthly stipend to supplement their income, particularly those on the World Sevens Series. A significant portion of those retain full-time jobs outside of their rugby commitment. While these players might not be truly ‘amateur’ in the strictest sense, for the purpose of this exercise those who are not full-time employees of a professional fifteen-a-side club or franchise will be considered so.
No6 FLANKER
The Pumas have an extensive list of domestic talent available on the flanks, and a long history of producing world class players in the position at home. Pablo Matera had a brief spell with Leicester Tigers before returning to Argentina, while Martín Chiappesoni has only just moved abroad after spending time with national sevens program. Aníbal Panceyra Garrido has also been a sevens standout, and more recently has spent time at lock.
Most of Canada’s flank options are home-based, with Jebb Sinclair the only exception prior to the World Cup. He switches between lock and blindside flank for both club and country. Kyle Gilmour has only joined Rotherham following the tournament. Kyle Baillie has spent time in Australia with Easts, and is often found in the second row. Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach) captained the national u20 side and was part of the senior training squad ahead of this year’s Pacific Nations Cup.
Uruguay’s flankers are entirely amateur, a theme that finds only rare exceptions but may someday soon change, with domestic contracts seemingly now on the table.
The Eagles had multiple professional options heading into the World Cup but in the end opted for Australian import Al McFarland, now based out of New York. Todd Clever was famously discarded by head coach Mike Tolkin, while Inaki Basauri was deemed surplus to requirements. Scott LaValla was sadly injured prior to the tournament and has since left professional rugby to pursue a medical career in the Armed Forces.
| ARG | ||
| Pablo Matera | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Javier Ortega Desio | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Aníbal Panceyra Garrido | Tala (ARG) | AMATEUR |
| Martín Chiappesoni | Dax (FRA) | PRO |
| CAN | ||
| Jebb Sinclair | London Irish (ENG) | PRO |
| Kyle Gilmour | Rotherham (ENG) | PRO |
| Thyssen de Goede | James Bay (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| Kyle Baillie | Halifax Tars (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| URU | ||
| Matías Beer | Old Christians (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Fernando Bascou | Pucaru Stade Gaulois (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Gabriel Puig | Old Boys (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Manuel Castro | Carrasco Polo (URU) | AMATEUR |
| USA | ||
| Scott LaValla | Stade Français (FRA) | PRO |
| Al McFarland | NYAC (USA) | AMATEUR |
| Todd Clever | Newcastle Falcons (ENG) | PRO |
| Inaki Basauri | Nantes (FRA) | PRO |
No7 FLANKER
The Pumas can flex their muscles a bit more with these four players all fully professional and proven internationals. Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe remains in France and has now retired from international duty, while Juan Manuel Leguizamón has returned home after several years in France to remain in contention. Tomás Lezana and Rodrigo Báez have been based in Argentina for their entire career.
Canada’s contingent are all home-based, with John Moonlight also captain of the national sevens side and Nanyak Dala also a circuit regular. Matt Heaton is in his second season with Otley in England’s National 2 North. Of the other options Chase Kelliher (Capilano) has spent time with Box Hill in Australia, while former Glasgow and Ospreys signing Chauncey O’Toole (Belleisle) is now a full-time firefighter.
Los Teros are again complete amateur, as are the Eagles, with two slight exceptions. Andrew Durutalo has been a long-time member of the sevens program and is strongly rumoured to be joining Japan’s new Super Rugby franchise, the Sunwolves. Irish-born John Quill was part of the Munster Academy before a brief stay with London Irish and half a season with London Welsh. He now plays alongside McFarland in New York. Top prospect Hanco Germishuys is currently a standout with Gloucester Academy.
| ARG | ||
| Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe | Toulon (FRA) | PRO |
| Juan Manuel Leguizamón | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Tomás Lezana | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Rodrigo Báez | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| CAN | ||
| John Moonlight | James Bay (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| Nanyak Dala | Castaway Wanderers (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| Alistair Clark | Bay Street (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| Matt Heaton | Otley (ENG) | AMATEUR |
| URU | ||
| Juan Manuel Gaminara | Old Boys (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Juan de Freitas | Champagnat (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Agustín Alonso | Montevideo Cricket Club (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Leandro Segredo | Old Christians (URU) | AMATEUR |
| USA | ||
| Andrew Durutalo | OMBAC (USA) | AMATEUR |
| John Quill | NYAC (USA) | AMATEUR |
| Kyle Sumsion | BYU (USA) | AMATEUR |
| Ben Pinkelman | Denver Barbarians (USA) | AMATEUR |
EIGHTMAN
Argentina again boast strength in depth at the back of the scrum, and have often employed Fernández Lobbe and Leguizamón there as well. Both Leonardo Senatore and Facundo Isa have returned home from overseas. Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal is their top-ranked no8 outside their Super Rugby side, followed closely by brother Antonio (San Isidro Club).
Canada of course are lead by long-term Ospreys signing Tyler Ardron, while Richard Thorpe has enjoyed a long professional career before opting to represent the country of his mother’s birth. Aaron Carpenter (Cornish Pirates) occupied the spot for several years but was selected primarily as a hooker for the World Cup. Admir Cejvanovic is a member of the national sevens program, so too highly rated prospect Matt Mullins (Belleville).
Uruguay’s best at the back of the scrum remain unsigned, despite Alejandro Nieto and Diego Magno being standouts for several seasons.
Surprisingly the Eagles have only Samu Manoa as a fully professional no8, and then he is just as likely to be found in the second row. The abrasive Danny Barrett remains unsigned outside of his sevens commitments, and Matt Trouville, while employed as a coach, in still an amateur player. John Cullen is a converted football player who has been used more as a lock at international level and appears to be enjoying a hiatus from the game after being overlooked for the World Cup.
| ARG | ||
| Leonardo Senatore | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Facundo Isa | Jaguares (ARG) | PRO |
| Benjamín Macome | Bayonne (FRA) | PRO |
| Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal | Uni Tucumán (ARG) | AMATEUR |
| CAN | ||
| Tyler Ardron | Ospreys (WAL) | PRO |
| Richard Thorpe | London Welsh (ENG) | PRO |
| Admir Cejvanovic | Burnaby Lake (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| Seb Pearson | London St. George’s (CAN) | AMATEUR |
| URU | ||
| Alejandro Nieto | Champagnat (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Diego Magno | Montevideo Cricket Club (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Mathias Braun | Pucaru Stade Gaulois (URU) | AMATEUR |
| Manuel Diana | Old Christians (URU) | AMATEUR |
| USA | ||
| Samu Manoa | Toulon (FRA) | PRO |
| Danny Barrett | SFGG (USA) | AMATEUR |
| Matt Trouville | Seattle Saracens (USA) | AMATEUR |
| John Cullen | Seattle Saracens (USA) | AMATEUR |
BACK ROW SUMMARY
Argentina aren’t quite as stocked with full-time pros as other positions, but have impressive depth nonetheless and lose little quality between their contracted players and their top amateurs. Canada looks a little light on genuine stars with a number of players around the same level. Uruguay have no professional loose forwards and, like the second row, suffer from a lack of size in comparison to other countries. The Eagles have a handful of players overseas and a number of athletes who would benefit greatly from a quality domestic competition.
Tomorrow we move on to the decision makers – the halfbacks.
