Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Americas players are spread thinly through most of the Top 14 this week, with half of the 10 likely to play named in one game. Lyon is set to welcome Bordeaux to Matmut Stadium on Friday evening with Francisco Gómez Kodela holding down the tighthead side of the scrum in a very important match to keep Lyon from slipping into the relegation zone.
Rodrigo Capó Ortega returns to lead Castres against Bayonne on Saturday and the big Uruguayan second row is joined by Argentine goal kicker Benjamín Urdapilleta in the starting lineup. Sergio Parisse hopes to drag the uninspired Stade Français to victory against Brive, while Patricio Fernández is handed the pivot position for Clermont for their daunting trip to Stade Ernest Wallon.
The big game of the weekend sees European heavyweights Toulon and Racing 92 go head-to-head at Stade Félix Mayol on New Year’s Day. Starting lineups have yet to be confirmed but Les Toulonnais have named Samu Manoa, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, and Axel Muller in their squad for the match. The Parisians will bring a pair of exiled Pumas with them in Manuel Carizza and Juan Imhoff.
