Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Week 8 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.
The Parisian battle of Racing 92 vs Stade Français will open Week 8. Involved for the home side will be Juan Imhoff and Manuel Carizza. Both Pumas are to start the match. The opposition are coached by Gonzalo Quesada, the top point scorer from Rugby World Cup 1999.
Montpellier host the Rodrigo Capó Ortega captained Castres. The Tarns have opted to rotate a number of their roster for the away match. This sees Benjamin Urdapilleta having been left on the bench. Fellow former Puma, Horacio Agulla is also to be a replacement.
The basement clash sees a desperate Grenoble at home against an equally troubled Bayonne. Both clubs are in grave danger of relegation, even this early in the season. Chilean Pablo Huete will feature for the visitors.
Saturday’s final fixture will see a very unusual looking Toulon lineup will play away to La Rochelle. Named to play at flanker is Samu Manoa. Both Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Axel Muller are among the many rested players. Argentine Leandro Cedaro will start for La Rochelle. He is capped by Italy.
The final two matches of Week 8 are Sunday fixtures. Lyon and Clermont are to have home advantage against Pau and Toulouse respectively. Lineups for both matches will not be confirmed until Saturday afternoon. All four clubs have players from the Americas.
