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
USA to host Rugby World Cups 2031 and 2033
The USA will host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women’s in 2033. Results of the final vote by the World Rugby’s Council were unveiled on Thursday in Dublin. It was an historic occasion for the USA who have never before hosted the 15-a-side version of the World Cup. The 2018 edition of the Sevens World Cup was held in San Francisco, but the only previous 15-a-side World Cup to take place in the Americas was the 2006 women’s tournament played in Edmonton.
What a 24 team Rugby World Cup could look like
Expanding the Men’s Rugby World Cup from 20 to 24 teams is more than just possible. In looking at what an expanded tournament would likely be structured, it is clear that the arguments against expansion are insufficient. 23 of the 24 teams for a potential RWC in Australia in 2027 are prior RWC participants. Meanwhile, the Canadian-eliminating Chileans are positioned as the 24th. Expansion here we come.
Test Call-Ups for Canadians
Uncapped players are on Canada’s roster for next month’s Pacific Four tournament in New Zealand. Ottawa Gee-Gees prop Maya Montiel and Queen’s Gaels utility back Chloe Daniels have made the roster. The latter helped Queen’s win the USports national university title in November while Montiel was a championship tournament all-star.
North Americans Star in Premier 15’s Finale
Canadian Alysha Corrigan started the comeback for Saracens with a try just before halftime, and the USA’s Alev Kelter scored the match-winner. Eagles duo Jennine Detiveaux and Kate Zackary each grabbed doubles for Exeter. Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi was the other try-scorer as North Americans accounted for all 29 points against Bristol’s 26. Bulou Mataitoga and Hallie Taufo’ou touched down for Loughborough in their 22-17 win over Harlequins. Canadian Paige Ferries scored two tries for Worcester.
Colombia vs Panama confirmed for this month
Colombia is set to face Panama this month in Medellín. The neighboring countries are to play in a series of friendlies in the Colombian city on May 20-22. The matches will take place at the Unidad Deportiva José René Higuita.
Make it 10 for New England Free Jacks
Make it 10 wins in a row for the Free Jacks. New England scored early and late to secure a 15-10 win over Rugby ATL and Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night. It was a tense contest throughout with high penalty counts from both sides desperate to find an edge.
Houston SaberCats take down Utah Warriors
The Houston SaberCats took a mighty step towards the postseason with a thrilling 31-27 win over the Utah Warriors on Saturday night. With five tries scored Houston took maximum points from the home fixture and move into third place in the Western Conference with only three games to play.
NOLA Strike Gold against Old Glory DC
Nate Osborne’s return to New Orleans on Saturday did not go as planned. NOLA Gold produced their best performance of the season with a 50-21 victory over Old Glory DC. The visitors had no answer for an attack that seemed to come from all angles over 80 minutes.
Cafeteros Pro Do the Unthinkable
Los Cafeteros Pro have qualified for the SLAR 2022 Semi Finals. The Colombian team were 11-10 winners on Sunday afternoon over the Olímpia Lions. The outcome gave Los Cafeteros Pro four competition points and a place in the play-off’s. The Olímpia Lions were eliminated by the team that was winless in SLAR 2021.
Jaguares XV Get the Message and Put on a Show
Los Jaguares XV got the message and responded. They put in their best performance of SLAR 2022 to crush Os Cobras 84-15 on Sunday. The star of the match was Ignacio Mendy. He outperformed his hat-trick from two weeks ago to score five tries in the match. Los Jaguares face Selknam in the final four while Peñarol take-on Los Cafeteros Pro.
Selknam Shine Twice in Six Days
Chilean SLAR entrant, Selknam completed a double this past week. They were 64-3 winners over Los Cafeteros Pro on Tuesday and 15-8 winners over SLAR leaders Peñarol on Sunday. The former was a big win with impressive tries. The latter was a hard-fought win with a strong second half built on winning in the contact area and playing the percentages. Selknam are an excellent example of how to make professional rugby work on limited resources.
El Clásico – Peñarol vs Selknam
SLAR can make it public – the tournament has its feature match. It is not one involving an Argentine team; rather, it is Peñarol vs Selknam. The two teams put on a competitive match on Sunday. Not for the first time, it was a game of trench warfare; committed players gave it their all. At times it boiled over, including an issue in the tunnel as the players exited the field at half-time.
The Big Apple Just Got Bigger
Rugby New York have added another World Champion to their ranks. Nehe Milner-Skudder has departed New Zealand and will join up with the team this week. The 31-year-old won 13 caps for the All Blacks, notably scoring New Zealand’s first try in the 2015 World Cup Final victory over Australia.
Matera the Magnificent
Pablo Matera is in magnificent form. The Argentine flanker won Man of the Match for the third time this season for the Crusaders in Super Rugby 2022. Matera previously won Man of the Match against Moana Pasifica in March and against the Melbourne Rebels in April. He will be a vital member of Los Pumas in 2022.
Pumas March Towards European Titles
The Challenge Cup and Champions Cup Semi Finais took place over the weekend. The Americas were represented in all four matches. Pumas are now in line to play in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals. Hooker Facundo Bosch and uncapped tight head Joel Sclavi were involved in La Rochelle’s win over Juan Imhoff’s Racing 92. Juan Cruz Mallía and Eagle David Ainu’u featured for Toulouse who fell to Leinster. Francisco Gómez Kodela and Lyon won their Challenge Cup Semi Final against Wasps while Facundo Isa and Toulon won their against Saracens.
UNDER
France Again, Australia Again
Australia will host Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2029. A World Rugby vote in Dublin on Thursday morning determined awarded Australia hosting rights. RWC 2023 will be the Men’s Rugby World Cup and RWC 2029 will be the Women’s Rugby World Cup. RWC 2027 will be the third edition of the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The inaugural RWC in 1987 was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Australia hosted the tournament alone in 2003. That tournament was followed by France hosting in 2007. France will host RWC 2023.
Felipe Arcos Pérez the first of several headaches for Uruguay
Peñarol and Uruguay have a problem. Center Felipe Arcos Pérez suffered a broken foot and will not play again in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) 2022 season. News out of Uruguay is that Arcos Pérez is out for six weeks. He is unlikely to be playing for Uruguay against Japan in June.
It gets worse with Diego Arbelo Blow
Uruguay are a leading player down. Tight head prop Diego Arbelo is out of the tour to Japan in June and the home tests against Romania in July. Arbelo was injured playing for Peñarol against Los Jaguares XV. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and is now to undergo a six month recovery regime.
Uruguay in Danger of losing Juan Manuel Tafernaberry too
Juan Manuel Taffernaberry played as Penãrol’s replacement scrum-half against Selknam on Sunday. Taffernaberry’s match was ended quickly; he was injured in attempting a charge down. Screaming in pain on the floor, he was helped off with a clear shoulder injury. Peñarol had to play Felipe Etcheverry out of position at scrum-half. Tafernaberry is in danger of missing more than just the SLAR play-off’s.
Arrows Humiliate Jackals
The Toronto Arrows cruised to a 57-0 win over the Dallas Jackals at York Lions Stadium on Saturday evening. Seven different players touched down in a match that resembled a training run at times, the home side scoring 43 points in the first half alone before taking their foot off the gas.
LA Giltinis Winning Streak is Over
A 21-point performance from Joe Pietersen led the San Diego Legion to a 31-27 win over the Giltinis on Sunday evening. It brings LA’s seven-game winning streak to a halt and sees the Cali Cup returning to San Diego, in what was a fitting end to the Legion’s stay at the Sports Deck.
Week from Hell for Olímpia Lions
It was a poor week for the Olímpia Lions. The Paraguayan SLAR entrant was beaten on Tuesday by Os Cobras and on Sunday by Los Cafeteros Pro. The Olímpia Lions needed to win one of them to book a place in the Semi Finals. Instead, the SLAR 2021 Semi Finalists were eliminated. Los Cafeteros Pro face Peñarol with the Olímpia Lions season having ended.
Cobras Insufficiency
Season SLAR 2022 was worse than SLAR 2021 for Os Cobras. The Brazilian franchise won two matches in 2021 and one in 2022. Compared to the other teams it makes the franchise the worst overall in SLAR. Olímpia were Semi Finalists in 2021 and Los Cafeteros Pro replace them in the final four in 2022. Both teams have rosters with high numbers of Argentines. Os Cobras is Brazilian dominated. The simple truth is many Brazilian players are not good enough.
