Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Billy Meakes has at long last arrived in the Windy City. The Australia 7s international and former LA Giltinis star is in training with the Chicago Hounds and should make his anticipated debut for the expansion side against the Toronto Arrows at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night.
Two starting players, however, have been ruled out with injury. Hugh Roach suffered a knee sprain early in the match against Utah this past weekend and is expected to miss the next four to six weeks. Canadian international Lindsey Stevens played most of the game at hooker and should wear the No2 this weekend, with Mason Koch to make his Hounds debut on the bench.
Also out is left winger Julián Domínguez, who was on the receiving end of a Paul Lasike clearout and took a heavy knock to the shoulder. His prognosis is not as bad as initially feared, however, and the Argentine star should only miss the next two or three weeks.
Assuming Meakes takes the field as expected, it should see Mark O’Keeffe shifted one spot out to the right wing with Caleb Strum likely swapping sides to take the place of Domínguez. It remains to be seen what Toronto’s backline will look like. The Arrows were steamrolled by New York in their last outing after being forced to play without a recognized flyhalf.
