Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The French Pro D2 returns to it’s regularly scheduled programming after a week off, and up to 20 Americas players are set to take part with the race to the last playoff spot and safety from relegation is all ahead full steam. Lyon have all but clinched their return to the Top 14, with a virtually insurmountable 26 point lead over second place Bayonne, while both Albi and Colomiers are hot on the heels of Perpignan for the final playoff spot. At the other end of the spectrum Dax and Carcassonne aren’t out of danger quite yet but look in reasonable position to stay up with Tarbes and Provence headed for the drop.
Bayonne will use their remaining fixtures to plot their succession against probable challengers Béziers and Aurillac. Martín Bustos Moyano kicked two penalty goals and Pablo Huete started at lock but the Basque club could not overcome Lyon on Thursday, with reserve scrumhalf Agustín Figuerola’s club coming out 15-11 winners.
A half-dozen games are on tap for Friday evening. Damian Arias is at tighthead prop for Montauban against Aurillac. Carlos Muzzio is at loosehead for Mont-de-Marsan, with Agustín Ormaechea starting at scrumhalf against Béziers. A pair of former Pumas run out for Dax at Bourgoin as Martín Chiappesoni plays no8 and Ignacio Mieres is at inside centre. Three more are on show at Aix where Leandro Assi and Lucas Caneda will feature for Provence against Albi, with Javier Rojas on the visiting bench.
A half-dozen South Americans will play at Carcassonne, with Uruguay’s Felipe Berchesi leading the way for the home team and Argentine international Nahuel Lobo starting at loosehead. Four of his compatriots line up on the other side of the pitch for Tarbes. Agustín Costa Repetto and Sebastián Poet will play from the kickoff, with Nicolás Vergallo and Jerónimo Negrotto to come on as impact subs.
The last match of the weekend has Biarritz Olympique heading to Colomiers. Demian Panizzo and Ariel Castellina are possibles for the latter. It’s not clear exactly when Taku Ngwenya will pack up and head state-side for PRO Rugby, but he looks probable to start for BOPB this weekend at least.
