Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12 will take a couple weeks off but that hasn’t stopped several clubs from fielding near full-strength sides in this weekend’s Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures. With three games on tap for Friday afternoon, four on Saturday, and one on Sunday, there are several Americas players getting valuable game time and chances to prove themselves ahead of the end-of-season cup runs.
A pair of Eagles World Cup stars will go head-to-head when Sale travel to Cardiff. AJ MacGinty continues at flyhalf for the Sharks, while Cam Dolan will captain the Blues from his preferred no8 position. MacGinty will head stateside to play the first game of the Americas Rugby Championship next weekend while Dolan will meet up with the team one week later.
The teammate Titi Lamositele will start at loosehead prop for Saracens who are away against Scarlets. A new name for Sarries fans to keep an eye on is Canadian lock or loose forward Kyle Baillie, who has joined the club on a trial with an eye to securing a short-term contract as injury cover. Baillie will provide second row cover from the bench in his European club debut.
Canadian fans will be happy to hear that Tyler Ardron is back and fighting fit again after overcoming a troublesome thumb injury. He will make his Ospreys return on from the bench when Bristol arrive on Saturday. The visitors will start scrum expert Gastón Cortes at tighthead prop with Eagles midfielder Thretton Palamo among the reserves.
Joe Taufete’e will make his third consecutive start for Worcester Warriors in the middle of the front row when they take on Harlequins. Elsewhere Northampton Saints travel to Welford Road to play Leicester with Juan Pablo Estelles slated to start on the left wing.
Two Argentines and one Canadian will run out for Newcastle Falcons against Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday. Evan Olmstead is in the second row with Juan Pablo Socino in his usual no12 jersey and Belisario Agulla on the right wing.
