Americas Players in British & Irish Cup – Round 1

The big guns are all involved in the European Rugby tournaments, but there is another cross-border competition getting underway this weekend for some of the lesser lights of the Northern Hemisphere. Reserve sides from the Irish provinces and Welsh regional sides will play against England’s Greene King IPA Championship teams in the British & Irish Cup. Clubs typically use these matches to give games to fringe players, but also to test promising academy talents which adds a real unknown quality to the games. A half-dozen Americas players will be involved on Saturday, with one on Sunday.

Canadian international Tyler Hotson is back in the Richmond second row as they host Leinster ‘A’ at the Athletic Ground. Former Canada u20 hooker Richard Townsend is set to make his club debut off the bench. Another former Canada age-grade rep, flanker Justin Blanchet, is a reserve this week for Bedford Blues against Newport Gwent Dragons.

PRO Rugby standout Will Magie makes his first appearance of the season after re-joining Ealing during the week. He’ll start at flyhalf with Argentina’s Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba wearing the no1 jersey for the Trailfinders against Yorkshire Carnegie. London Welsh are off to Ireland on Saturday, where Aaron Carpenter will hope to get some time as a reserve loose forward.

Also traveling to Ireland this weekend are Cornish Pirates, who play Connacht Eagles at the Sportsground in Galway on Sunday. Brett Beukeboom and Nicolás de Battista have been rested but Matt Evans will start for Pirates, moving from the wing to his preferred position of fullback.