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The 6th and final round of the European Challenge Cup will take place this weekend. Players from the Americas will take to the field. Some are looking to see their teams advancing to the knock-out stage while others are merely completing their duties.
This weekend sees one solitary Friday fixture. The Scottish capital side, Edinburgh, will take on Romania’s Timisoara. Felipe Arregui will will no part in the match. The Argentine prop is shortly to join Los Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
The Worcester Warriors welcome Russian side Enisei-STM to Sixways on Saturday. The home side have named Conor Braid out of position. The Canadian fly half will play the match at outside center. Also starting will be USA Eagle Joe Taufete’e who will play hooker.
In pool 3 leaders Brive will face the Newport Gwent Dragons. With home advantage the Top 14 side enter as favorites. Playing on the right wing will be veteran USA flier Taku Ngwenya.
In England’s west country Bath host Pau. A win for the home side will see them through to the Quarter Finals. Pau has shown little interest in the Challenge Cup, preferring to instead put all efforts into avoiding relegation in the Top 14. Getting ann opportunity this weekend will be Matt Tierney. The Canadian will be a replacement prop.
The remaining Pool four sides, Cardiff Blues and Bristol, will also meet on Saturday. A win for the Welsh region will see them through to the final eight. USA flier Blaine Scully has been named on the left wing. Gastón Córtes will start at Tight Head prop for Bristol while Thretton Palamo is to be a replacement back.
In Northern England the Newcastle Falcons host the best side in this season’s competition, the Ospreys. The Welsh region have won all five matches with bonus points. Starting vs the Falcons will be USA born Sam Underhill at flanker and former USA junior representative Hanno Dirksen. Canadians Tyler Ardron and Jeff Hassler remain sidelined through injury.
The French derby between Lyon and Grenoble will see the return of a Puma. Francisco Gomez Kodela is back to start at Tight Head prop for Lyon. The Top 14 relegation threatened visitors have, like Pau, shown little interest in the Challenge Cup this season.
Pool 1 leaders Gloucester host Bayonne. The Aviva Premiership side are enjoying a solid campaign but will be without Mariano Galarza on Saturday. There will be South American involvement however as Ramón Ayarza will again play from the bench for Bayonne.
One point adrift of Gloucester is La Rochelle. The revelation of the Top 14 side will host Italian outside Benetton Treviso on Saturday. A win will see the French side into the Quarter Finals. Leandro Cedaro will play second-row for La Rochelle. Toronto’s Robert Barbieri is to start for the Italians at flanker.
Bringing the round to a close will be a Paris vs London fixture on Sunday. Needing a win to advance Stade Français welcome the Harlequins. The visitors will have St. Lucia winger Marland Yarde in their run-on team.
