Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The 2016-2017 Top 14 season kicks-off in a week from now. The opening round will see matches played on August 12 and 13. It is looming as being as competitive as ever with a range of possibilities for both champions and relegation. In order to enter with match practice teams are involved in pre-season matches with some even playing against Pro d2 or Aviva Premiership clubs.
Some six matches are to be played today. Two teams to have emerged as increasingly competitive clubs, La Rochelle and Bordeaux, will meet at Marcel Deflandre. Named on the bench for the home side is second-rower Leandro Cedaro. The Argentine is capped by Italy.
Pumas fans will be delighted to learn that Patricio Fernández will be playing fly half for Clermont today. The Argentine pivot will start in the position against Worcester at Issoire. Fernández will play for a star-studded Clermont side and start ahead of Camille Lopez.
Powerhouses Toulon and Toulouse will meet in an exciting fixture. Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe has been named to start at flanker. On the bench will be Samu Manoa. As was the case throughout last season the USA Eagle is to be used as a second-rower this season.
In a second division match up Soyaux-Angoulême will take on Bourgoin. Soyaux-Angoulême is the new home of Sebastian Poet, a potential Pumas fly half. He joined the side from Tarbes during the off-season and a lot of attention has been placed on his arrival.
At the Parc des Sports Narbonne will play against Colomiers. The visitors have named Argentine front-rowers Ariel Castellina and Agustín Costa Repetto in their starting lineup. Castellina will start at tighthead prop and Costa Repetto will play hooker.
Former Pumas Horacio Agulla and Benjamín Urdapilleta are to be in action for Castres tomorrow. The club captained by Uruguayan Rodrigo Capó Ortega will take on the Northampton Saints at Camarès.
An additional five matches were played yesterday. The Top 14 returning Bayonne hosted last season’s champions, Racing 92. The visitors were too strong, putting on a 29-14 performance. Former Pumas Manuel Carizza and Martín Bustos Moyano started on opposing teams, while Chilean Pablo Huete lined up opposite Carizza.
A derby in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region saw Grenoble holding off Lyon to win 19-17. Starting for last season’s Pro D2 champions was Francisco Gomez Kodela. The Argentine tighthead prop transferred from Bordeaux to Lyon this season. Fellow former Pumas Agustín Figuerola also starting, playing scrumhalf.
The relegated Agen faced another former Top 14 club, Montauban. Both clubs are dreaming of a return to the elite but face uphill battles to succeed in doing on. On Thursday Montauban completed a 22-17 away win. The USA eligible Dave Ryan was involved for the hosts.
The new club of Jamie Cudmore also played on Thursday. Doing so at Saint-Affrique the relegated Oyonnax came out 30-12 winners over Aurillac. Playing the full match for Aurillac was former USA u20 Christian Ostberg.
