Week 23 of the Pro D2 season begins today Competing in France in the latest round of the national second division will be a range of players from the Americas. The following preview details their involvement.
In the lone Thursday fixture Montauban are at home against Oyonnax. Both sides are former Top 14 clubs and would love to be back at the elite level of French professional rugby. Starting for the visitors will be Uruguayan RWC 2019 certainty Manuel Leindekar. He starts in the second-row.
On Friday Leandro Mario Assi will be looking for game time from the bench. The Argentine prop will be a replacement for Aix Provence who are to be at home against Charente. On the opposition bench will be Chilean second-rower Pablo Huete while Argentine Joel Sclavi starts at tight head.
Another Argentine prop will feature on Friday with Victor Damian Arias named on the bench for Bourg en Bresse. His team will be playing at home against Brive. The visitors go into the game with Axel Muller starting on the left wing. The 2016 Olympian scored his first try for Brive last weekend.
In Central France Nevers play host to the relegation threatened Colomiers. The home side will have Canadian RWC 2011 and 2015 veteran Conor Trainor starting in the mid-field. Martín Chiappesoni will be a replacement flanker for the visitors.
On the bench for Aurillac will be Bernard Reggiardo. The son of legendary Pumas tight head prop, Mauricio Reggiardo will be Aurlliac’s replacements scrum-half. Aurillac will be up against Bayonne who have Martín Bustos Moyano starting for them at fullback.
Concluding week 23 will be a Sunday fixture. Down in the former glory land of Béziers the home side will take-on Mont de Marsan. Line-ups for this match will not be confirmed until Saturday afternoon.