Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Players from around the globe are to be unveiled in the new South American professional rugby competition. Set to start in February 2020 there are to be players from Namibia, Portugal, and the Pacific Islands joining South Americans in the new competition.
As reported by Ignacio Chans in El Observador two u20 players from Portugal have signed to play for one of the two Uruguayan sides. The country’s two teams are confirmed as Montevideo soccer clubs Nacional and Peñarol.
The Portuguese players are winger Rafaelle Storti and fly half Jerónimo Portela. Both players are in Portugal’s senior roster for the upcoming test matches against Brazil, and Chile in South America.
From Namibia Damian Stevens and Max Katjijeko, both of whom played at RWC 2019. Stevens impressed at scrum-half, notably scoring Namibia’s opening try of the tournament against Italy in Osaka. Katjijeko was a replacement in that match and started in the following game against South Africa.
Twelve players from the Pacific Islands are also set to join the Uruguayan sides. No names have yet been revealed though it has been confirmed that they are domestic based players who are to gain professional experience away from their home countries.
An official announcement of the format and participants in the Súper Liga Americana has been set for November 29. Expected to be named is a league of seven teams. Joining the two Uruguayan sides are expected to be two from Brazil and one from each of Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay.
The Súper Liga will be played from February to May. This will see it coinciding with Major League Rugby (MLR). It is part of what is a new global season operating within the Americas. The professional leagues will run until May and June and be followed by home internationals in July, the Americas Rugby Championship in August and September and tour matches in November.
