Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rugby Canada has confirmed their schedule for the July international window as well as venues for their two home matches in the 2020 Americas Rugby Championship. As previously reported, Montreal and Halifax will host the July fixtures with Calgary and Winnipeg hosting in August.
A surprise sees Canada playing just one official test in July, with the French Barbarians match in Montreal on July 4 not counting towards World Rugby Rankings. There is no third fixture currently scheduled following the test against Italy in Halifax on July 11.
The Montreal game will be played at the Complex Sportif Claude Robillard (CSCR), a 6,500 seat venue. Stade Saputo, the 20,000 seat home of the Montreal Impact, is booked that weekend for a Major League Soccer game. As expected Wanderers Grounds will host the match in Halifax.
Meanwhile the ARC fixtures against Brazil and Chile will be played in Calgary and Winnipeg respectively. Calgary Rugby Park most recently hosted the June 2017 test against Georgia. This will be the first international for Winnipeg, with the game coinciding with the ‘Manitoba 150’ celebrations.
Both windows saw a change from years past. The July internationals were previously played in June, while the ARC was previously a February and March contest. Changes in the calendar were made to allow separation between the club season and international fixtures.
FIXTURES
Saturday, July 4 – Canada vs French Barbarians – Complex Sportif Claude Robillard, Montreal
Saturday, July 11 – Canada vs Italy – Wanderers Grounds, Halifax
Saturday, August 22 – Canada vs Brazil – Rugby Park, Calgary
Saturday, August 29 – Canada vs Chile – Maple Grove Park, Winnipeg
