Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Europe’s biggest annual club competition, the Champions Cup kicks-off this coming Friday. The 20 team competition brings together the finest clubs from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
As reigning champions Saracens enter as the tournament favorites. The club is one of six participants from the Aviva Premiership. France has one more while Ireland is the next best with four teams competing. The remaining three places see Italy, Scotland and Wales having just one club each.
This season’s final will take place a the home of Scottish rugby. Murray field will host the fixture on May 13 2017.
Argentina (14)
The largest contributor from the Americas is Argentina. The names are a combination of well known names from past Rugby World Cups and players who may feature in Japan 2019. Special attention must be made to Patricio Fernández and Axel Muller who fall into this latter category. The uncapped Serafin Bordoli has been brought over to Italy recently from Argentina. He qualifies for Italy based on ancestral grounds and now plays in the country for this reason.
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB | UNION |
| Horacio Agulla | Wing | Castres | France |
| Patricio Albacete | Second-row | Toulouse | France |
| Marcos Ayerza | Prop | Leicester Tigers | England |
| Serafin Bordoli | Fly half | Zebre | Italy |
| Marcelo Bosch | Center | Saracens | England |
| Manuel Carizza | Second-row | Racing 92 | France |
| Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe | Flanker | Toulon | France |
| Patricio Fernández | Fly half | Clermont | France |
| Juan Figallo | Prop | Saracens | England |
| Juan Imhoff | Wing | Racing 92 | France |
| Axel Muller | Wing | Toulon | France |
| Bruno Postiglioni | Prop | Zebre | Italy |
| Guillermo Roan | Prop | Zebre | Italy |
| Benjamín Urdapilleta | Fly half | Castres | France |
Canada (2)
Jamie Cudmore’s move to Oyonnax from Clermont will see no French-based Canadian players in the Champions Cup this season. There are, nonetheless, still to be two with ties to Canada. The veteran of three Rugby World Cups, DTH van der Merwe and the uncapped Shane O’Leary are two players who may both play in Japan 2019.
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB | UNION |
| Shane O’Leary | Fly half | Connacht | Ireland |
| DTH van der Merwe | Wing | Scarlets | Wales |
Uruguay (1)
The veteran of Rugby World Cup 2003, Rodrigo Capó Ortega is back for another European campaign. As the captain of Castres, Capó Ortega will have added responsibility. His place in history is assured. He has already been a French champion with Castres and is hungry to also succeed in Europe.
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB | UNION |
| Rodrigo Capó Ortega | Second-row | Castres | France |
USA (8)
The second most represented country in the Champions Cup this season will be the USA. The North American’s will have players who play in the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro 12 and Top 14. The newcomers are Langilangi Haupeakui and AJ MacGinty. Haupeakui has recently arrived in Scotland from his native California the hard-running back-rower was a revelation in PRO Rugby this season. MacGinty has started very well for the Sale Sharks since arriving from Connacht during the off-season.
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB | UNION |
| Callum Black | Prop | Ulster | Ireland |
| Langilangi Haupeakui | N0 8 | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland |
| AJ MacGinty | Fly half | Sale Sharks | England |
| Titi Lamositele | Prop | Saracens | England |
| Samu Manoa | Second-row | Toulon | France |
| Greg Peterson | Second-row | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland |
| Tommy Seymour | Wing | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland |
| Chris Wyles | Wing | Saracens | England |
