Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s slim pickings this week in the Greene King IPA Championship with only a half-dozen Americas players set to suit up over the weekend. With few clubs able to offer competitive salaries to overseas players the prospects of more players heading across the Atlantic to the English second division any time soon appear to be ever slimmer, particularly with PRO Rugby offering a comparable alternative.
Argentine prop Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba was a replacement for Ealing Trailfinders in their 28-12 loss to London Scottish at the Athletic Ground on Friday evening. Despite the setback Trailfinders are still in third spot on the log and in the thick of the playoff hunt with five clubs all within just a few points of each other.
Setting the pace at the moment is undefeated London Irish, who travel to Clifton Lane to face Rotherham Titans with Ciaran Hearn among the reserves. The Exiles are comfortably the best team in the division this season and look near certainties to win immediate promotion back to the Premiership next year.
The main event as far as the Americas are concerned is on Sunday when Cornish Pirates welcome Richmond to the Mennaye. In-form Canadian duo Brett Beukeboom and Matt Evans return from international duty to bolster the Pirates lineup with uncapped Argentine centre Nicolás de Battista set to square off opposite US Eagles cap Ronnie McLean. Richmond remain in last place but have at least managed to scrape one win out of the first half of the season. At this point relegation seems all but inevitable for the brave but outmatched club.
