Americas Players in Pro D2 – Season Preview

A new season of Pro D2 rugby begins on Thursday. The opening round kicks off two months after the 2016 final. With there being 30 rounds and playoffs to be juggled alongside test rugby and European club rugby it is a long, long season.

The new season sees Oyonnax and Agen back in France’s second division. The two clubs were relegated from the Top 14. Also joining the competition are Charente and Vannes who won promotion up from the Fédérale 1, France’s third division.

The Americas will have a significant presence in the Pro D2 this season. Unsurprisingly Argentina comes in first with the highest contribution. With 17 players the South American republic has more than the remaining three combined.

 

Argentina

The introduction of professionalism into Argentina truly transformed the country’s rugby landscape. The contracting of leading players has seen a large number returning home from France. It has also prevented others from leaving for Europe. This has had the result of a reduction of the number of players in France though those remaining are not all elite. Those from Argentina playing Pro D2 rugby this season are a combination of veterans who are firstly out of the picture for representative duty or secondly have left for France due to being overlooked for Los Jaguares.

The promotion of Vannes from the Fédérale 1 has seen the signing of a number of players from across France and abroad. Former Pumas hooker Martín García Veiga has joined from English club Jersey. Also arriving is Bautista Güemes from Agen. He is one of three Argentine flyhalves in the Pro D2.

There has also been player movement out of the Pro D2. Pumas Gerónimo Albertario, Nahuel Lobo, and Javier Rojas have all departed. The lesser known Juan Mangione has left Montauban for Fédérale 1 side Chambéry while Emiliano Racca is back in Buenos Aires.

NAME	POSITION	CLUB
Damian Arias	Prop	Montauban
Leandro Assi	Prop	Biarritz
Ariel Castellina	Prop	Colomiers
Carlos Muzzio	Prop	Mont-de-Marsan
Jerónimo Negrotto	Prop	Mont-de-Marsan
Ramiro Pacheco	Prop	Vannes
Agustín Costa Repetto	Hooker	Colomiers
Martín García Veiga	Hooker	Vannes
Bruno Mercanti	Hooker	Charente
Javier Lagioiosa	Lock	Vannes
Demián Panizzo	Lock	Colomiers
Manuel Plaza	Lock	Perpignan (Academy)
Martín Chiappesoni	Back Row	Dax
Leandro Pérez Galeone	Back Row	Bourgoin
Bautista Güemes	Flyhalf	Vannes
Ignacio Mieres	Flyhalf	Dax
Sebastián Poet	Flyhalf	Charente

 

Canada

Prior to being relegated Oyonnax had acquired the signature of Canadian legend Jamie Cudmore. The BC giant makes the move from Clermont to be the highest profile player from the Americas, if not the world, in the Pro D2. Having captained his country at a Rugby World Cup and being a former Top 14 champion Cudmore will be a poster boy for the competition.

A second veteran Canadian Jason Marshall has said goodbye to Aurillac. Canada’s presence has nonetheless improved. Back from relegation is Taylor Paris while Rugby World Cup 2011 and 2011 utility back Conor Trainor arrives at Vannes after years on the HSBC Sevens circuit.

NAME	POSITION	CLUB
Andrew Tiedemann	Prop	Bourgoin
Paul Ciulini	Lock	Perpignan (Academy)
Jamie Cudmore	Lock	Oyonnax
Conor Trainor	Centre	Vannes
Taylor Paris	Wing	Agen

 

Uruguay

The World Cup halfback combination of Uruguay are both back again for another season in France. Agustín Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi were both strong performers for Los Teros in England and Wales and a lot of eyes will be on them as Uruguay face Germany, Romania and Spain in the 2016 November Internationals.

NAME	POSITION	CLUB
Agustín Ormaechea	Scrumhalf	Mont-de-Marsan
Felipe Berchesi	Flyhalf	Carcassonne

 

USA

Despite Taku Ngwenya having moved on from Biarritz the USA will nonetheless have representation in the Pro D2 this season. Christian Ostberg continues to press his claim for Eagles selection while Dave Ryan remains eligible to play for the USA, despite not showing any particular inclination to do so.

NAME	POSITION	CLUB
Dave Ryan	Prop	Agen
Christian Ostberg	Lock	Aurillac