Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
In what is surely a first for North American rugby at least, two Americas players will line up together in the midfield for Clermont Espoirs – the academy side – against Toulon on Sunday. Top Canadian prospect George Barton, 18, will line up with 19-year-old USA export Moses Fuala’au in a dynamic centre pairing. Both players are in their first season with ASM Clermont Auvergne, one of the top clubs in France. Barton has been a regular in the run-on side while Fuala’au has been largely a reserve as he competes with France u20 centre Damian Penaud for the no13 jersey.
South America will also be represented in the team, with Argentina u20 prop Justo Durañona starting on the tighthead side of the scrum. Other age-grade internationals include Fijian fullback Setareki Tuicuvu, Portuguese flanker Maxime Vaz, English second row Karl Wilkins, and four Georgians – props Beka Kakabadze, Nika Niparadze, and Nika Simonishvili, and back row Otar Giorgadze.
Barton and Fuala’au are expected to line up across from each other in a one-off qualifier match on February 13 in Austin, Texas. The winner of Canada and USA will take part in the World Rugby u20 Trophy in Zimbabwe starting on April 19.
