Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
US Eagles prop David Ainu’u is set to make his first career Top 14 start when he wears the No1 shirt for Toulouse against Agen on Saturday. The opportunity comes just a week after his 21st birthday and in his 10th competitive appearance for the club. Colombian lock Andrés Zafra is on the bench for Agen.
The Top 14 weekend begins today with Castres hosting Clermont Auvergne. It’s an exciting Castres lineup with the 8-9-10 hinge all from the Americas. Canada’s Tyler Ardron is at the back of the scrum with Uruguay’s Santiago Arata and Argentina’s Benjamín Urdapilleta combining in the halfbacks.
Sergio Parisse will play at No8 for Toulon against Pau, and there are two Americas exports on reserve duty. Pumas tighthead prop Ramiro Herrera is on La Rochelle’s bench opposite Brive, and his Eagles counterpart Titi Lamositele fills the same role for Montpellier against Bordeaux.
The Pro D2 is a day ahead and there are no COVID postponements for a change. There are Americas players involved in five of the eight matches, with two games already completed on Thursday.
Canadian lock Evan Olmstead started for Biarritz in their 16-all road draw against Provence. At Colomiers the home side squeaked out a 19-16 win over Nevers. Argentine dual-international Martín Chiappesoni wore the No6 shirt with former SaberCats star Josua Vici on the wing.
Friday’s matches include a heavyweight clash between the league’s top two teams. Oyonnax take on Vannes with Canada’s Taylor Paris on the left wing and Teros lock Manuel Leindekar among the reserves. Vannes are just ahead in the standings but Oyonnax still have two games at hand.
Segundo Tuculet is on the right wing for Valence Romans at Charente, and there are two more Argentines playing in Montauban, both with the away side. Mont-de-Marsan feature Carlos Muzzio at loosehead prop with Italian international Leandro Cedaro in the second row.
