Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.
UP
History Making Colombians
Colombia made history this past week in Nairobi. Las Tucanes defeated Kenya 16-15 in a sudden-death Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifier. The result sees Colombia making history as Las Tucanes advance to join Samoa, Europe 2 and Asia 2 in Repechage. The winner of the Repechage tournament will qualify for the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
🇨🇴🌟¡GANOOO COLOMBIA! @fecorugby se clasificó al Torneo Clasificatorio Final para la #RWC2021
Resultado Final 🇨🇴16-15🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/OVVr7ot3Ye
— World Rugby ES (@WorldRugby_ES) August 25, 2021
The recovering Scott LaValla
Scott LaValla is on the mend from a serious neck injury and in good spirits according to Army Rugby. The former USA Eagles flanker underwent surgery to relieve pressure on a compressed spinal cord and is already on his feet again though a full recovery will take time. LaValla was injured in a collision at a ruck while playing for Army against the Ramblin Jesters at the recent 2021 RugbyTown 7s.
Robert Paylor beats the odds
The inspiring Robert Paylor has once again beaten the odds, walking across the stage at to receive his diploma from the University of California, Berkeley, on Sunday. It comes four years after doctors told the former Golden Bears lock that he would never walk again after suffering a catastrophic neck injury while playing in the National Championship Final.
Always an inspiration. Congrats @RobertPaylor5 🎉🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/Rr549OhyPb
— Josh Yuen (@joshcal2020) August 29, 2021
New deal for Tyler Duguid
Canadian prospect Tyler Duguid has extended his stay with Top 14 side Montpellier Hérault through the end of the 2022-23 season. Duguid made a strong impression in his first season with Montpellier after making the move from Narbonne. He made his senior professional debut as a replacement against Bath on May 1 in the Challenge Cup and then started six Top 14 games over the next month. A standout in age grade international rugby, Duguid is yet to make his test debut.
Segundo Tuculet makes instant impact for Montauban
Montauban celebrated the new Pro D2 win with an away victory. The club downed Bourg-en-Bresse 24-20 with a road victory. Argentine Segundo Tuculet played the match at fullback and scored a sensational try in his first competitive match for his new club.
🇦🇷👏La carta de presentación de Segundo Tuculet en Mountaban. Gran corrida del fullback en el triunfo sobre US Bressane (5 pts de Sebastián Poet) en la primera fecha del PRO D2. pic.twitter.com/A8967AmD1x
— Periodismo Rugby (@Perrugby) August 27, 2021
Mariano Galarza leads the chargers
Bayonne named Mariano Galarza as their captain for the new season. The Basque club are seeking promotion back to the Top 14 after being relegated under amazing circumstances. The highly experienced Galarza has played for Bayonne since 2019 and first played professional rugby in Europe in 2010. He played in RWCs 2011 and 2015 and he earned the most recent of his 26 test caps against France in 2018. His captaincy began well; Bayonne downed Agen 37-16 on Thursday.
UNDER
Canadian RWC qualifying preparations
Canada play host to the USA this coming weekend, and it is no ordinary match. The winner will have a strong advantage heading into the second leg of the World Cup Qualifier. There are reasons to be concerned. While the Eagles have named a virtually full-strength squad led by star flyhalf AJ MacGinty, Canada have yet to even reveal the group who have been in St. John’s preparing, let alone the final roster. After fielding a severely shorthanded team during their UK trip in July, as of yet there are no indications this selection will be any stronger.
Pumas starting props return to clubs
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Francisco Gómez Kodela started for Argentina against South Africa. Both players are now back in Europe with their clubs. For both the Rugby Championship has concluded. Mario Ledesma is thereby forced into fielding other players. He did so against Romania with the UK-based Facundo Gigena and Enrique Pieretto starting. The former made his test debut in that match. Carlos Muzzio debuted against South Africa but is presently injured; thus, either Rodrigo Martínez or Thomas Gallo will debut from the bench.
Conor Trainor closes the door
Conor Trainor has called time on his rugby career at the age of 31. The long-time Canadian international says he intends to continue studies at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Along the way he played 42 World Sevens Series events, captured Gold at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games, and won 36 test caps while playing in two World Cups.
Haline Scatrut says goodbye to As Yaras
Also retiring is Haline Scatrut. One of Brazil’s longtime serving Women’s players, Scatrut has announced her retirement from As Yaras. She was an Olympian for her country in the recent Tokyo Olympics. Her final appearance was in the 20-12 win over Japan at the Olympic Games. She debuted for Brazil at the age of 19 and ten years later she concluded her representative honors.
