2020 Timeline Review

For once we won’t start off with the same old thing! It’s fair to say that 2020 was not the biggest ever for rugby in the Americas. In fact one might say the opposite. The year started with so much promise but then that thing happened and we were left to scrape the barrel for positives. If there is something to be cheerful about, it’s that 2021 will be much better. We’re not predicting a best-ever over the next 12 months, but there is a fair bit to look forward to – the returns of MLR and SLAR, the Olympics (fingers crossed), and Rugby World Cup 2021.

January 5 – Jamaica defeats Gibraltar in the first international action of the year. Officially the two sides were u23 level but it really should have been considered a full test. Meanwhile MLR and SLAR signings continue to come in, and Brazil’s Wilton Rebolo arrives in Austin. He would play in the preseason but awaits his official pro debut which will now come with New York.

January 12 – Rugby ATL takes the field for the first time, defeating NOLA Gold in a 100-minute friendly. Uruguay’s Germán Kessler scores in his pro debut with Charente, earning a contract with his impressive display at RWC 2019. Just a couple days earlier Dallas City Council approves the Reverchon Park stadium proposal but the project is yet to begin construction.

January 19 – The announcement of new co-owners for Rugby United New York ties up an eventful week. The Jaguares defeat a Georgia XV in front of nearly 20,000 fans in Mar del Plata, and Mitre 10 Cup champions Tasman beat the SaberCats in Houston. Saracens are officially relegated after repeat salary cap breaches, and Uruguay are announced as hosts of the first ever u20 Americas Rugby Championship… a tournament that never happens.

January 26 – Canada’s women finish in second place at the Hamilton stop of the World Sevens Series. The men remarkably come through their tournament unbeaten, but finish in 5th do to the new and widely-panned seeding format adopted this season.

January 29 – One of the more notable moments of the year as Austin changes ownership and are immediately re-branded to the Gilgronis. A collective ‘what?’ is heard around the rugby world. Adam Ashley-Cooper is among a slew of new recruits for the team but he never gets a chance to play in MLR before the season is ultimately suspended.

February 2 – Canada’s women again claim second place, this time at the Sydney Sevens. The Men’s Eagles close their tournament in third spot. Los Jaguares open their Super Rugby account with a bonus point win over the Lions. Meanwhile Tristan Blewett’s departure from the NOLA Gold is confirmed.

February 9 – The third season of MLR is officially underway. Houston opens the season with a win over Colorado; San Diego hands defending champs Seattle their first loss of the season; Toronto smashes the Gilgronis in Austin; and two of the three expansion sides gets win as ATL beats Utah and New England upsets New York in Las Vegas. Cam Dolan scores a hat trick as DC are on the wrong end of their first game.

February 12 – A sign of things to come: news that the Hong Kong Sevens will be postponed due to the coronavirus is reported by Jonathan White of the South China Morning Post. An official announcement follows, and the rugby world is suddenly put on high alert. The tournament was subsequently cancelled entirely, along with the rest of the season.

February 16 – MLR Vegas Weekend comes to a close as the Legion clobbers the Raptors. With very poor attendance at Sam Boyd Stadium, the concept is largely considered a failure. In the nation’s capital, Tendai Mtawarira makes his league debut and Old Glory wins their first home game against Seattle.

March 1 – South Africa are champions of the LA Sevens. The Men’s Eagles finish in 5th place, with speedsters Carlin Isles and and Perry Baker both recording their 200th career tries during the tournament. A day earlier, Seattle get their first win of the season after a miserable 0-3 start.

March 4 – History is made as the first regular season game of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby is held in Montevideo. A strong crowd watches as the home favorites Peñarol are upset by Chilean franchise Selknam. Only two more games would be played before the pandemic would cause the season’s premature end.

March 8 – The last supper. Canada’s men earn an historic bronze at the Vancouver Sevens. Guatemala defeats El Salvador in the first ever Central American women’s test match. Colombia defeats Brazil to advance in the RWC 2021 qualifiers. Utah beats Seattle in an extraordinary never-ending contest, and Austin wins for the first time since 2018 to cap the most competitive weekend ever in MLR. In impressive 6,000 watch Ceibos defeat Olímpia Lions in Córdoba.

March 12 – It all comes crashing down. MLR suspends play for 30 days. The Women’s Challenger Series tournament in Stellenbosch is next to go, followed by the RWC qualifier between Colombia and Kenya. Super Rugby is next, then SLAR though somehow Ceibos are allowed to play Selknam in a virtually empty stadium.

March 17 – SLAR reads the tea leaves and officially closes shop until 2021. MLR makes the same decision a day later. By the end of the week the World Sevens Series, u20 Championship, and u20 ARC are all gone.

March 24 – The inevitable happens – Tokyo 2020 is now Tokyo 2021 as the IOC postpones the Olympics.

March 30 – USA Rugby files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The very next day the French Barbarians cancel their plans to visit North America.

April 9 – Say it ain’t so! The Colorado Raptors pull out of Major League Rugby. At the same time MLR announces the first ever Collegiate Draft.

April 15 – The ARN Podcast returns for a fleeting moment – it’s a memorable discussion with World Rugby Chairman candidate Agustín Pichot.

May 2 – The votes are in. Bill Beaumont wins re-election as World Rugby Chairman by a final tally of 28-23. Rugby Canada confirms they supported the incumbent, and it’s revealed that Rugby Americas North split their vote. Pichot and South America feel betrayed and the future of the ARC is put in peril.

May 15 – The July international window is officially closed.

May 28 – If the Gilgronis weren’t enough of a shock, MLR’s new expansion team in LA is unveiled as the Giltinis. The response is overwhelmingly negative. Supporters of the name remain few and far between. Meanwhile Rob Hoadley is out as Head Coach of San Diego with his assistants, Scott Murray and Zack Test, soon promoted to a co-lead role.

June 2 – The Women’s Premier League suspends the season and Glendale continues their strategic realignment by cutting their two women’s sides.

June 4 – MLR expansion side Dallas unveils their brand, the Jackals, which is widely applauded in the wake of the LA debacle. Meanwhile the future of Los Jaguares is in doubt with Gonzalo Quesada returning to France and players told to look for contracts elsewhere.

June 14 – The inaugural MLR Collegiate Draft takes place virtually. Life University outside back Conner Mooneyham goes in the No1 spot to the Dallas Jackals. New York, Houston, and Toronto do not take part.

June 17 – San Diego confirms the signing of former England captain Chris Robshaw. Phil Mack is surprisingly let go by the Seattle Seawolves, but he eventually finds a home with Rugby Canada as an Assistant Coach with the Pacific Pride.

June 22 – USA Rugby announces a deal that will see them moving their headquarters to Glendale and using Infinity Park as a ‘preferred venue’.

July 6 – Rugby Americas officially pulls the plug on the Americas Rugby Championship and the Americas Rugby Challenge. News is otherwise largely limited to player signings until…

July 9 – MLR says ‘aloha’ to a Hawaiian bid for the 2021 season. Kanaloa Hawai’i have presented an ambition plan, but there remains significant logistical hurdles to clear.

July 21 – State Senator Glenn Wakai casts serious doubt on the Kanaloa’s ability to pull through on their claims.

July 29 – World Rugby says no more Sevens Series events in 2020. Meanwhile Fiji and Japan are invited to join the Six Nations for what is eventually dubbed the ‘Autumn Nations Cup’. Georgia step in after Japan later pull out.

August 10 – A silent edict from World Rugby sees the close of the 3-year eligibility window postponed by a year. Tier 1 nations are set to benefit with only a small opportunity for the USA to capitalise from the controversial decision.

August 22 – Uruguay are the first to restore rugby in the Americas as the Campeonato begins. Test players and SLAR professionals will all feature for their home clubs.

September 1 – USA Rugby’s debt reorganization plan is approved by the court and the union officially enters the post-bankruptcy phase.

September 4 – Nicaragua Rugby officially achieves federation status. The Central American nation is now cleared to compete internationally.

September 5 – MLR announces that they have not come to an agreement with Kanaloa to bring a team to Hawai’i. The bidding group launches a furious rebuttal but soon withdraws it from social media. They are later denied entry to Super Rugby.

September 11 – Australia are given hosting rights for the Rugby Championship after the New Zealand government’s quarantine protocols are deemed too strict. At the same time USA Rugby confirms a feasibility study into the potential hosting of RWC 2031.

September 22 – Three North American women are named to the World Sevens Dream Team, and MLR confirms a March kickoff date for the 2021 season. The next day disgraced Welsh coach Rob Howley is confirmed as a new addition to the staff of both Rugby Canada and the Toronto Arrows.

September 27 – Sebastián Piñeyrúa is re-elected as President of Sudamérica Rugby.

September 29 – South Africa’s teams move to the Guinness Pro Championship, effectively ending any hope for Los Jaguares to stay in Super Rugby.

October 16 – The Springboks pull out of the Rugby Championship, citing player welfare as the primary reason. Rugby Canada holds a high performance camp in Langford with many new names as they look towards qualification for RWC 2023.

October 17 – International rugby returns in the Americas though the South American Championship will not be full tests. Argentina narrowly avoids being upset by Chile, and Federico Favaro scores 20 points as Uruguay beat Brazil.

October 25 – The inaugural World Tens Series event kicks off in Bermuda. Despite dealing with severe complications due to the pandemic, the tournament is completed and draws positive reviews. Argentina claim the South American Championship but all eyes are on Chile who defeat both Uruguay and Brazil.

October 31 – Canada’s Cindy Nelles scores the game-winning try in stoppage time as Canterbury defeat Auckland to lift the Farah Palmer Cup. Nelles is later given the rare honor of playing for the New Zealand Barbarians against the Black Ferns. Canadian prospect Will Percillier scores with his first touch of the ball in his Top 14 debut.

November 7 – Uruguay redeem their opening test loss to Spain by winning the second test in Montevideo. Los Pumas cruise to a dominant win over an Australia XV as part of their Rugby Championship preparation. South African entry SX10 claims the World Tens Series title.

November 14 – Argentina completes a sensational win over the All Blacks in Sydney. It’s the first ever victory over New Zealand by the Pumas, 35 years after their first test meeting.

November 19 – Canada and the USA are drawn in the same pool for RWC 2021. A day before the Women’s Eagles play an intra-squad match in Colorado. Panama are granted associate membership by World Rugby.

November 25 – A new format of Rugby World Cup qualifying is revealed for the Americas. It confirms the end of the Americas Rugby Championship, at least temporarily, and opens the door for a South American team to potentially qualify as Americas 1.

November 28 – Los Pumas are shut out by the All Blacks in Newcastle. At the same time Portugal sweep their two-game home series against Brazil. The next day Brazil’s Women claim the Sudamérica Sevens title for the 17th time in 18 years.

November 30 – World Rugby confirms a return to 16 teams for RWC 2025. The flagship women’s tournament had been reduced to just 12 teams following the 2002 edition. A trio of Pumas including captain Pablo Matera are suspended after highly offensive social media posts from several years prior are unearthed. Their suspensions, however, last little more than 48 hours as the UAR soon reverses its decision.

December 5 – Argentina and Australia finish in a draw to close the Rugby Championship. Los Pumas end the tournament in second place.

December 8 – MLR releases the schedule for its fourth season. For the first time not every team will face each other during the regular season as conference play is given priority. Chile begins a new domestic initiative with the creation of the regional Super 4.

December 13 – Argentina’s men redeem an earlier loss to Brazil by claiming the Sudamérica Sevens title in Valparaiso. Carrasco Polo defeat Old Christians to win the Campeonato Uruguayo. Martin Iosefo leads the Schnauzers past the Ridgebacks in the Golden Eagles Showdown series.

December 14 – The draw for RWC 2023 is held. Argentina lands in Pool D along with England, Japan, and qualifiers from Oceania and the Americas. The Americas 1 spot is in Pool A with New Zealand, Italy, and hosts France.

December 16 – A six-team set-up is confirmed for the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby competition. Colombia’s Los Cafeteros Pro become full members. Meanwhile it’s announced that remaining Jaguares players who do not sign overseas will be dispersed via a draft.

December 18 – Mexico reveals their long-term ambition to enter a team in Major League Rugby. The final Olympic Repechage tournaments are confirmed for Monaco in June 2021.

December 20 – Montevideo is confirmed as exclusive host of the South American qualifiers for RWC 2023. Two rounds will be played in June and July. Italy announce that they will host both Argentina and Uruguay for tests in November 2021.