Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
This weekend marks the final round of the pool stage for the European Champions Cup. It is to confirm which eight clubs are to be the Quarter Finalists. Taking to the field in matches are to be a number of players from the Americas. Below is a preview of those involved.
Tennessee flier Tommy Seymour will play on the right wing for the Glasgow Warriors tonight. The city side play host to the Exeter Chiefs in a Scotland vs England club fixture. Seymour is capped by Scotland, his mother’s native country.
On Saturday the all-English battle between Saracens and the Northampton Saints will feature three Americas’ players. Former USA captain Chris Wyles starts on the left wing. He is to stand outside Marcelo Bosch who will play at outside center. Also involved will be Juan Figallo as a replacement prop.
The injury ravaged Clermont are slowly getting backs returning to fitness. Patricio Fernández remains out of action. The visitors from West Wales, the Ospreys have named Jeff Hassler on the left wing and Hanno Dirksen on the right wing. The latter of the two turned down playing for the USA in Rugby World Cup 2011. He did so to chase a spot in Wales but remains uncapped.
The Ospreys are one of two remote possibilities for Welsh teams to reach the Quarter Finals. The other is the Scarlets. The Llanelli-based side has home advantage against Toulon on Saturday. Facundo Isa starts the match at flanker while Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Californian Samu Manoa have both been named as replacements.
In Italy Benetton Treviso welcome Bath. They are to do so with Argentina’s Tomás Baravalle starting the match at hooker. Canadian-Italian Robert Barbieri will start at the back of the scrum. Ohio born Sam Underhill starts at flanker for Bath while new-recruit Lucas Noguera Paz is to run-out at Loose Head prop.
On Sunday the Leicester Tigers will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating performance last weekend in France. Their opponents are to be Racing 92. The Parisians are without Juan Imhoff due to suspension Argentina will be represented as Manuel Carizza starts in the second-row.
