Americas Players in Pro D2 – Week 1

Despite the French summer far from being over the country’s rugby season is underway. One weekend after the start of the Top 14 it is time for the Pro D2 to begin. The competition continues to become an economically success and with it clubs have quality players.

This season’s edition is to continue with the importance of Americas players. Argentina, Canada, Uruguay and the USA are all to be represented.

Week 1 opens today with 2010 Top 14 champions Clermont playing host to Mont-de-Marsan. Both clubs are contenders for promotion and have players from the Americas. Starting at scrum half for Mont-de-Marsan today will be Agustín Ormaechea. The Uruguayan has been an excellent player for the club and is, without question, a Top 14 standard player. Argentine Carlos Muzzio will play loosehead prop.

In the first of six Friday matches Dax will play host to Aurillac. Starting for the home side at flyhalf will be former Puma Ignacio Mieres. Joining him in the starting lineup will be Martín Chiappesoni. He will play flanker.

Vannes will make their Pro D2 debuts at home against one of the lower sides from last season, Montauban. The Brittany side will do so with former Pumas hooker Martín García Veiga starting in the front-row. Canada’s Conor Trainor will start in the midfield, and two more Argentines are on the bench – lock Javier Lagioiosa and flyhalf Bautista Güemes.

Fellow new arrivals Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente will debut on Friday. They, though, will have a baptism of fire as they play against Oyonnax. Last season while Charente were in the Fédérale 1 Oyonnax were playing in the European Champions Cup. Jamie Cudmore will play second row for Oyonnax. On the opposing team will be Argentine flyhalf Sebastián Poet.

Los Teros flyhalf Felipe Berchesi will be in action on Friday. His club, Carcassonne will play away to Albi. A lot of European eyes will be on the Uruguayan over the course of the opening rounds of the season. Indeed, Uruguay will play away test matches against Germany, Spain and Romania in November. Berchesi has been named on Carcassonne’s bench.

At home Bourgoin will be looking to start strongly against Colomiers. The team from the alps will have Argentine Leandro Pérez Galeone starting for them at the back of the scrum. Agustín Costa Repetto will start at hooker for the visitors.

The one match of the round played on Saturday will be Béziers vs Agen. Lineups for the fixture will be announced on Saturday afternoon.