Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The RFU Championship takes another step into the second half of the season this weekend and London Irish now hold a 9-point lead over second-place Ealing and are threatening to pull away. If they can pick up a win over Jersey Reds at the Madejski on Sunday it will be down to the Trailfinders to stop them but with each passing week it looks increasingly unlikely.
Three games on Saturday feature North American players. Nick Civetta starts in the Doncaster second row against Richmond, and Justin Blanchet will wear the No6 shirt for Bedford Blues when Coventry arrives. The Canadian flanker will head to his first senior international training camp following the match.
Shane O’Leary will be sticking with Nottingham instead of Canada during the Americas Rugby Championship, with the flyhalf essential to his team’s success. O’Leary is currently leading the Championship scoring race by a wide margin,.
Sunday will see Brett Beukeboom leading the Cornish Pirates against basement-dwellers Hartpury. Javier Rojas continues at flyhalf and Matt Evans is again named on the bench, the veteran struggling to find a place in the run-on side this season.
Andrew Durutalo misses out but Ben Landry will play for Ealing Trailfinders on their trip to Headingley where Yorkshire Carnegie awaits. The Eagles forward plays on the blindside flank for the second straight match. If Ealing have any hope of staying in the Premiership conversation it’s a must-win situation.
