Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
With the Six Nations taking a break it is a return to club competition in France. This weekend sees week 17 of the Top 14, France’s premier league. Involved are to be a host of players from the Americas. The following is preview documenting the Americas’ representatives.
Opening week 17 will be Toulon at home to Paris on Saturday. Three Pumas from RWC 2015 are to start in the match. Facundo Isa will play on one flank with Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe doing so on the other. For the Parisians the Tight Head prop position will be taken by Ramiro Herrera.
Strugglers Oyonnax host one of the contenders for the title, Montpellier. Featuring from the bench for Oyonnax this weekend will be Argentine Axel Muller. The uncapped winger was an Olympian in 2016. Born in Mendoza, he spent a number of years living in Arizona. His connections to both South America and North America run deep.
Also facing the risk of dropping to the Pro D2 are Brive. On Saturday the club hosts Pau, a team to have successfully transitioned to the elite level of the Top 14 and with a refurbished stadium to go with it. Starting in the back-row for Pau will be Steffon Armitage. The former English test flanker is from Trinidad & Tobago.
Also on Saturday the Mauricio Reggiardo coached Agen play at home against Toulouse. A home win is very much needed as the race to avoid relegation is heading-up. Starting for Agen will be Facundo Bosch. The former Jaguar will be joined by the USA eligible Dave Ryan in the front-row.
The derby of Lyon vs Clermont will close play for Saturday. The match has been overshadowed by Clermont’s staggering injury crisis. Among those to have been sidelined is Argentine Patricio Fernández. He makes his comeback from injury this weekend. It comes in time for the club to have a fit fly half for the Champions Cup Quarter Finals. Lyon have named Francisco Gomez Kodela as a replacement prop for the match.
The two remaining fixtures are to be played on Sunday. Bordeaux and Racing 92 re at home to Castres and La Rochelle respectively. Line-ups for both matches are to be announced on Saturday afternoon.
