Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.

 

UP

Chile
Chile’s preparations for the South American 4 Nations are innovative. On Saturday there was a special trial match with the extended roster split into two teams to have a unique Rojos vs Blancos match-up. Team Blanco were 34-10 winners over Team Rojo at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Saturday. As a bonus the two kits sported the new Cóndores logo and it can only be described as a major upgrade on the previous iteration.

Canada/Arrows
Rob Howley is to join Canada’s coaching staff. The Welshman has a highly respected rugby intellect. He has previous experience as the assistant coach to the Cardiff Blues, Wales, and the British & Irish Lions. This follows an equally impressive playing resume. Howley was unceremoniously removed from Wales’ coaching team just before RWC 2019, sent home from Japan on charges of breaching World Rugby’s anti-corruption regulations for betting on rugby matches. He now has a shot at redemption, and will double as a consultant for the Toronto Arrows.

Sebastián Piñeyrúa
Piñeyrúa has been re-elected as Sudamérica Rugby President. The Uruguayan will thereby remain in charge of South America’s governing body for four further years. His new term will run from 2020-2024. In his first term in office Piñeyrua worked with unions to improve the game throughout the region. Among the developments was the creation of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR).

Britt Benn, Ghislaine Landry and Kristi Kirshe
Three North Americans players have been named to the official HSBC Dream Team for the 2019-2020 Women’s World Sevens Series. Canadians Britt Benn and Ghislaine Landry are joined by USA star Kristi Kirshe. The team is named despite the circuit featuring only five stops due to COVID-19. All three were, in fact, selected together in the Dubai Dream Team in December.

Juan Imhoff
Imhoff scored a match-wining try today for Racing 92. The Argentine winger scored the only try of the European Champions Cup Semi Final match against Saracens. His 75th minute try gave Racing 92 a 19-15 win. Racing 92 now await the result of the second Semi Final. It is also a French vs English club fixture.

Facundo Isa
Isa scored for Toulon on Saturday. The rampaging ball-carrier from Santiago del Estero continued his fine form ahead of the Rugby Championship. His try helped Toulon to a Semi Final victory. The French Top 14 club defeated the Leicester Tigers 34-19. Toulon will face the Bristol Bears in the Challenge Cup Final. The 27-year-old has 27 caps for Argentina. Six more are expected in November and December in the Rugby Championship.

New England Free Jacks
It was a good week for the Free Jacks. First they announced the signing of Lions hooker Pieter Jansen, then the creation of a new regional academy program. Seven other development groups were verified but New England’s innovative approach stood out and speaks volumes about their values as an organization.

 

UNDER

Brazil
In a bizarre series of events, Brazil named Eric Romano as the new CEO of the national governing body, the CBRu. The announcement was quickly followed by another: Romano will not be the CEO. To the credit of the organization and Romano himself, the decision was made after criticisms of his social media. Romano has posted chauvinist and homophobic posts on his personal accounts. This saw rapid criticism and an instant change of the guard.

Lucas Bur
The Argentina XV lost Lucas Bur to injury. The second-rower departed the camp in Uruguay to return to Argentina. Bur suffered a torn calf. His recuperation time is estimated at between three and four weeks. The South American 4 Nations bogus on October 17. In other words, Bur is unlikely to be fit in time for the tournament. Pumitas flanker Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel has been called as a replacement.

Jaguares Exodus
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla will join the Leicester Tigers for the 2020-2021 English Premiership season. In doing so, another starting player from the 2019 Super Rugby Final has departed. The player exodus is not yet over. ARN can confirm that more departures are on their way. As it stands the only starting player who is seemingly to remain in Argentina is Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Ma’a Nonu
Farewell and adieu to Major League Rugby. Nonu has officially left the San Diego Legion and returned to the Top 14 with Toulon. It ends a memorable though short-lived stay in American rugby. While some may view a stint in MLR as something of a victory lap, Nonu never once looked like he was anything but a complete professional. Both league and Legion are poorer with his departure.

New Zealand
Unions are in heavy debt. The show simply must go on. Without test match rugby there will be no means of paying the bills; this includes paying players for international duty. In Australia Qantas has exited as the Wallabies sponsor; it is as grave as it gets. The Rugby Championship to the rescue! Only it is not so simple for New Zealand. Players have complained about the schedule, saying it is too long and COVID isolation requirements will ruin their holiday. Spare a thought for Los Pumas who must travel much farther, or the Argentina XV who are already in Montevideo for matches that will be played in a month!