Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Playoff spots are on the line as the European competitions enter the penultimate round of the pool stage. Players from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, and the USA will suit up in the Challenge Cup.
A head-to-head battle for top spot in Pool 4 sees Top 14 challengers La Rochelle host Italian upstarts Zebre on Friday. The visitors will start two Argentines – Eduardo Bello at tighthead prop and Nicolás de Battista at inside centre.
The two bottom sides in Pool 2 will play in Paris. Stade Français are already out of the running but will give Ramiro Herrera game time in the No3 jersey. Pau are in slightly better position with two wins from four. They need a big performance and a lot of luck to stay alive. Ignacio Calles is their reserve hooker with Matt Tierney covering tighthead prop.
Worcester are at the top of that pool and can clinch the top spot with a road win over Ospreys on Saturday. Joe Taufete’e will get the start for the Warriors at hooker.
In Pool 1, powerhouse Clermont Auvergne have secured the maximum 20 points from their four matches and will look to stretch their undefeated run at home against Northampton. Patricio Fernández is named among the replacements.
The most interesting match for Americas fans will be in Italy where Benetton Treviso host Agen. Pool 5 is a virtual dead heat with all four teams within two points of each other. Benetton will have Tomás Baravalle covering hooker while Agen hand starts to Colombia’s Andrés Zafra at lock and in-form Argentine Facundo Bosch on the flank.
