Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
A host of Americas players are back in action this week as the Pro D2 resumes following a two week holiday hiatus. It’s a welcome boost on a jumbled weekend that sees round 13 of the Top 14 re-scheduled for March, a re-shuffle required to play a handful of Champions Cup matches and one Challenge Cup make-up, all a result of the terrible events in Paris in November.
Tighthead prop Damian Arias earned just his first start of the season for Montauban on Thursday evening having finally recovered from injury troubles. The former Argentina ‘A’ and u20 selection moved from Dax in the off-season but has yet to make an impact at his new club.
Speaking of whom, Dax will field three Puma caps against Albi on Friday. Gerónimo Albertario bolsters the second row while Martín Chiappesoni lines up on the flank. Ignacio Mieres again moves to the midfield this week, but in the no13 shirt, a very unusual spot for his talents.
Chilean lock Pablo Huete is one of a trio of Americas players named to play for Bayonne against Aurillac. Former Pumas Martín Bustos Moyano and Benjamín Macome are the others, with the former starting on the left wing and the latter acting as back row cover from the bench.
Four South Americans take part in the battle of the hyphens as Mont-de-Marsan face Aix-en-Provence. Argentines Tomás Vallejos and Lucas Martín Caneda line up for Provence at lock and right wing respectively, while Carlos Muzzio plays loosehead prop for the other side. Uruguayan scrumhalf Agustín Ormaechea is also restored to the starting lineup for Montois.
A whopping six players exported from Argentina will play at the Stade Michel Bendichou on Friday evening. Lock Demián Panizzo starts for Colomiers with prop Ariel Castellina on the bench. Tarbes run out all four of their Americas stars. Agustín Costa Repetto is at hooker with Jerónimo Negrotto beside at no3, and the potent halfback combination of Nicolás Vergallo and Sebastián Poet are reunited once again.
Eagles flyer Takudzwa Ngwenya is a lonely North American representative on the wing for Biarritz against Bourgoin, while two more South Americans are in the Carcassonne lineup. Uruguay’s Felipe Berchesi will keep the Narbonne defense on their toes from his flyhalf position, with Nahuel Lobo of Argentina set to make an impact as a substitute prop.
USA Perpignan host Lyon in the last game of the weekend on Sunday. The teams have not been named yet but in-form scrumhalf Agustín Figuerola is a a possible participant for the visitors.
