Americas Players in Mitre 10 Cup / NRC

We enter Week 5 of the Mitre 10 Cup and Round 4 of the National Rugby Championship with a couple American-born players back in action for the first time this season. Canadians are hard to find with only one eligible player taking the field between the two competitions.

Toni Pulu returned to Counties Manukau as a reserve against Taranaki on Wednesday. The Chiefs standout could get bumped up into the Steelers starting XV on Sunday when they take on Auckland at Eden Park. Also taking the pitch already was Tony Lamborn who went head-to-head with Southland’s Bill Fukofuka on Thursday. Hawke’s Bay returned to the winning column taking a 43-29 result at Invercargill. Lamborn will now enjoy a few days off until the Magpies host Tasman in Napier on September 24.

Wellington continue to make good use of Chris Baumann at tighthead. The Eagles starter plays his fifth consecutive game for the Lions when Bay of Plenty arrive on Friday. Canadian duo Josh Larsen and Jake Ilnicki have been left out of the Northland and Manawatu teams, respectively, for the weekend.

In Australia the NRC is fast approaching its midpoint with three Americas-eligible players on display. James Hilterbrand is again reserve hooker for Sydney Rays against the NSW Country Eagles on Saturday. Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin wears no3 for UC Vikings against West Sydney Rams, and Marcel Brache gets his first taste of the 2016 season on the wing for Perth Spirit opposite Queensland Country.