Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
One each from Canada, Uruguay, and the USA will suit up in the French Pro D2 this weekend, with a dozen Argentines making up the vast majority of the Americas participants in Week 21. Heading into the final third of the season it’s Oyonnax who hold the slender lead with 58 points on the top of the table, with Colomiers and Agen hot on their heels at 57 points each. Montauban, Biarritz, and Mont-de-Marsan are also in the hunt for a playoff spot with more not far behind in a wide open race to the Top 14.
Thursday’s only schedule fixture will have Damian Arias as a reserve prop for Montauban as they host Aurillac in what is a game of huge importance for both. Sitting in 8th spot with 50 points, this looks a make-or-break day for Aurillac if they hope to stick with the pace setters.
On Friday there are a handful of matches on deck. Charente host bottom-dwellers Bourgoin with a pair of Argentine exports on each side. Sebastián Poet starts at flyhalf and Facundo Panceyra Garrido on the wing for the home team. Loose forward Leandro Pérez Galeone and prop Nicolás Mirande are on the bench for the Berjalliens. Charente are sitting pretty in the middle of the pack having all-but-guaranteed their spot in the Pro D2 next season. Bourgoin, meanwhile, are virtually certain of being relegated to Fédérale 1 as they sit 12 points adrift of next up Albi, themselves in grave danger of the drop.
Mid-level toilers Narbonne host Biarritz, with tighthead prop Leandro Assi on the bench for the visitors. Albi are home to Dax in a must-win match for les Albigeois. Dax are themselves not entirely out of the woods but are 10 points ahead of their hosts. They will have flyhalf Ignacio Mieres among the reserves.
Vannes, the home of a half-dozen Americas players, are also stuck in the relegation race despite a promising start to the season. Only three points up from Albi, they will view every home game as vital. They will have a tough challenge on their hands with Oyonnax arriving, though Jamie Cudmore will not be on the pitch after being sent off for punching last weekend. Starting for Vannes will be Eagles loosehead Eric Fry and Canadian centre Conor Trainor. Second row Javier Lagioiosa and flyhalf Bautista Güemes are lined up as replacements.
Uruguay’s favorite scrumhalf Agustín Ormaechea will wait his turn as a reserve for Mont-de-Marsan this week, with Argentine prop Jerónimo Negrotto beside him. Two of Negrotto’s countrymen will start for opponents Colomiers, Agustín Costa Repetto at hooker and Demián Panizzo at lock.
