Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Week 4 of the European Challenge Cup will be played this coming weekend. In the latest round fixtures will be played on Friday and Saturday. The following preview details the involvement of Americas’ players.
Opening the action will be an all-France fixture. Agen will be at home against Grenoble in a south-west vs Alps match-up. Starting for the hosts will be Facundo Bosch at flanker and the USA eligible Dave Ryan at loose head. Colombia’s Andrés Zafra will cover second-row from the bench.
Up in Paris there is to be a tribute match to the late Nicolas Chauvin. The teenager died this week of a heart attack following surgery on a broken neck injury suffered while playing. Stade Français are dedicating the match to him and will not be charging admission for the match. Nicolás Sánchez will make his debut for Stade Français while Guido Volpi will feature as a replacement for the Ospreys.
On Saturday French powerhouses, and Challenge Cup favorites, Clermont Auvergne are at home against the Dragons. The Welsh region dumped their Head Coach during the week while Clermont have no issues. A big win is expected with the fit-again Puma Patricio Fernández set to return as a replacement.
In England the Worcester Warriors host French side Pau. The visitors have named uncapped Argentine Ignacio Calles as a replacement prop. Callum Black starts for the Warriors. He turned down an Eagles test call-up earlier this year.
Italian side Zebre host Russian club Enisei-STM in Parma. Starting in the mid-field will be Nicolás De Battista. The Argentine player will make his Challenge Cup debut for Zebre.
