Americas Players in Premiership – Week 19

Week 18 of English rugby’s premier league, the Aviva Premiership will get underway this evening. It is to be a crucial round for many competitors with competition points becoming increasingly vital for places in the play-offs, European Champions Cup qualifying and to avoid the dreaded relegation. Taking to the field will be a host of players from the Americas.

The first two Americas Players in the Premiership in Week 19 are to be former Pumas Horacio Agulla and Marcelo Bosch. They have been named to start on opposing teams for this evening’s fixture between Bath and Saracens. The presence of an Eagle will occur sometime too with Titi Lamositele named as a replacement prop for Saracens.

An expected win for Saracens will keep the London-based club on top though any hick-up could see the club dethroned. Second placed Exeter host Worcester in a Saturday match that has the Chiefs well placed to move closer to the final four.

The 6th placed Harlequins and 11th placed Newcastle are both in need of points. The Quins are on the brink of missing the play-offs, making a home win paramount. The Falcons, for their part, are just four points ahead of London Irish and falling to the second division. Former Puma Belisario Agulla will feature from the bench for Newcastle.

Also on Saturday, Canadians Ciaran Hearn and Jebb Sinclair are both to start for London Irish. The bottom-placed Premiership side will play host to the Sale Sharks, who signed USA fly half AJ MacGinty this week from Connacht. A home win is absolutely mandatory for London Irish this weekend.

The Leicester Tigers are on the verge of returning to the top four. The 5th placed side will play host to the 9th placed Gloucester in a match they are expected to win well. Involved will be Marcos Ayerza and Mariano Galarza, the former on the Tigers bench and the latter playing second-row for the visitors.

The Wasps will host the Northampton Saints in the final match of the round, the only one being played on Sunday.