Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s hard to believe, but another Rugby World Cup cycle has come and gone. For Americas Rugby News, this was the first full cycle and our first time covering each and every match of the flagship tournament. We also had boots on the ground in Japan, no small feat given the very small number of English-language media in attendance from the Americas.
We are now half-way through our fifth year here at ARN and the progress in the Americas over that time has been remarkable. The most notable on the men’s side are the success of the Americas Rugby Championship and Americas Rugby Challenge, and of course the arrival of professional rugby via the Jaguares and now Major League Rugby.
This coming year will see South America expanding their scope with the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby set to launch in just a couple months. There will be no clashes between the domestic season and the international campaigns this year, a huge step for the region and a relief for us given the increased coverage we are preparing for!
On the women’s front there is still work to be done domestically but at international level North America continues to thrive. A new annual XVs tournament is set to begin in Australia in 2020, and of course the World Cup is approaching in 2021. Will we see a South or Central American team rise in the coming years?
The World Sevens Series has grown as well though recent changes have been poorly implemented by World Rugby. With luck those issues will be resolved and our hope is that a fully integrated men’s and women’s calendar is realised in the next Olympic cycle. In the meantime Tokyo awaits in 2020, and the new Challenge Series is a boost for developing nations.
Americas Rugby News will be exploring new ways to expand as well, with our podcast to be revived among other things in the New Year. For now, we would like to thank you all the continued support and wish you and your loved ones the very best for the holiday season. See you tomorrow!
