Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
History will be made on Saturday in Rome, Italy. The home team’s captain, Sergio Parisse will tie Brian O’Driscoll’s 6 Nations appearance record. The former Irish center and captain played in 65 matches in the European competition. Parisse reaches the mark against Scotland this weekend.
Earlier in this year’s 6 Nations Championship Parisse overtook Ronan O’Gara’s total of 63 appearances. In doing so he became the second most capped player in 6 Nations history. Should he play in the 2019 edition of the tournament he would officially be the all-time leading capped player in the tournament.
In facing Scotland this weekend Parisse will earn his 134th international cap. It sees him tie the mark of Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins. He recently overtook Keven Mealamu’s mark of 132 caps and is now behind only three players – George Gregan (Australia – 139), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland – 141) and Richie McCaw (New Zealand – 148).
The native of La Plata, Argentina no longer plays in June Internationals. It is an arrangement in place between the union and player to ensure he is able to play on and remain fit with a goal of appearing in RWC 2019. Italy’s remaining matches in 2018 are to be three home games in the November Internationals.
Should he appear in all three matches Parisse could end 2017 with 137 test caps. In 2018 he would be able to then overtake O’Driscoll’s 6 Nations appearance record and go on to get past the 148 cap mark held by McCaw.
Doing so would occur during RWC 2019 in Japan. In the tournament Italy face New Zealand, South Africa, Africa 1 and the repechage winner. The repechage winner may be Canada. In RWC 2015 Canada pushed Italy hard in their pool match in Leeds, England.
