Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Week 5 of the 2016-17 Top 14 season will see matches played on Saturday and Sunday in France. The competition features world class athletes from around the globe. Included are players from the Americas. This season’s edition is to continue with the importance of Americas players. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and the USA are all represented.
Getting Week 5 started will be Lyon vs Toulouse. In search of competition points at home, Lyon have named their strongest possible side. This includes former Pumas Agustín Figuerola and Francisco Gomez Kodela. They are to start at scrum half and tighthead prop respectively. Toulouse’s Patricio Albacete continues his rehabilitation and will play no part for the visitors.
Down in Basque country Bayonne will take-on Montpellier. Neither side has started the way they would have liked with Bayonne currently in the relegation zone. A home win is precisely what the Basques are aiming for. Chilean Pablo Huete will look to get game time from the bench for Bayonne.
To the east of Bayonne Pau will play host to Stade Français in a match kicking-off simultaneously. Starting at flanker for Pau will be Steffon Armitage. The English international is from Trinidad & Tobago. Gonzalo Quesada will be fielding largely reserve players as the Parisians plan for the long season.
With Taku Ngwenya set to arrive at Brive the club will again have a player from the Americas. The club will play host to La Rochelle in a Nouvelle-Aquitaine derby. La Rochelle have surprised many to be leading the Top 14 after four rounds. Starting against Brive will be Argentine second-rower Leandro Cedaro. The Northern Argentine is capped by Italy.
Saturday’s final fixture will see the eagerly awaited Clermont vs Bordeaux. Both clubs are expected to be in contention for the play-off’s and will be again face-off in the European Champions Cup. Starting at fly half this weekend will be Patricio Fernández. The Argentine fly half will play opposite former French international Lionel Beauxis.
Completing Week 5 will be two Sunday matches. Castres welcome Grenoble while Racing 92 host Toulon in a repeat of the 2016 Final. Players from the Americas are expected to be involved in both matches. The team lists will only be announced on Saturday however.
