Up and Under

Up and Under is an Americas Rugby News exclusive. It identifies the best and the tops and the flops involving the Americas during the course of the past seven days.

UP

Pumas Scrum-Halves Come to Life in Europe
In what was his first appearance since the World Cup, Gonzalo Bertranou retuned to play for the Dragons on Saturday. The Dragons fell 24-21 against Pau who had former Puma Facundo Gigena at loose head. Former Puma Rodrigo Martínez featured opposite Gigena from the bench. Meanwhile in France, Gonzalo García showed that he is ready for a Pumas recall. He scored for Zebre who defeated Oyonnax. Geronimo Prisciantelli also impressed from fly half.

English vs French Club Clash Features Six Pumas
Pumas took to the field for a number of teams this past weekend. In Gloucester, England the Cheery-and-white’s defeated Clermont. The match saw Matías Alemanno, Santiago Socino and Santiago Carreras playing against Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, and Bautista Delguy. Carreras scored 13 points and was man of the match.

González the Next Great Argentine
Mendoza back-rower Juan Martín González was man-of-the-match for Saracens on Saturday. Saracens were 55-36 winners over Connacht in the European Champions Cup. González scored a superb solo try while fellow Puma Lucio Cinti also scored. González is just 23 but already has 31 test caps. His lineout work, turnover work, ball-carrying and defense are all top-shelf. He is on his way to becoming the next great Argentine.

Argentine Hookers Score in Europe
Agustín Creevy has competition to be the understudy hooker to Julián Montoya. Uncapped Bautista Bernasconi scored for Benetton against Perpignan in the Challenge Cup this past weekend. He was not alone as Facundo Bosch scored for Bayonne in the Champions Cup against Glasgow while Santiago Socino scored a double for Gloucester against Clermont.

Trio for prestigious Olímpia de Rugby 2023
There are three finalists for Argentina’s prestigious Olímpia de Rugby 2023. The official best player of the year will be unveiled as part of Argentina’s annual awards for sporting excellence on Tuesday, December 19. The nominees are Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Isgró and Sofía González. Kremer is unofficially the Puma of the year and Argentine player of the World Cup. Isgró won World 7’s Player of the Year. González is the women’s nominee following Argentina’s South American title.

Miami Add USA-Slaying Chilean 
MLR newcomers the Miami Sharks are working hard to bring in reputable talent. This continues with the signing of Santiago Videla, a starter for Los Cóndores at the World Cup. Videla kicked the winning goal to beat the USA and qualify for RWC 2023. Spanish-language will be a feature of the team. Puma Tomás Cubelli and Teros Felipe Etcheverry, Manuel Ardao and Tomás Inciarte have all signed as has Eagles capped Argentine Benjamín Bonasso.

Sabor de Mexico en MLR
Planning is well-and-truly underway for Mexico’s inaugural professional rugby team. An expansion plan south of the border sees Nuevo León moving towards debuting. The Nuevo León team, which intends on entering MLR 2025, will play out of Monterrey. The team does not have an official name yet. Mexico’s test team made excellent progress during the RWC 2015-2019 cycle but barely played during the 2019-2023 period.

Chicago Hounds Add Eagles
Chicago have acquired Dylan Fawsitt for the 2024 campaign. The incumbent Eagles No2 joins his third Major League Rugby side, having previously suited up for the Glendale Raptors in 2018 before spending the past five years with New York. Nate Augspurger is also arriving.

Argentina Seeks “at least two more” teams in Super Rugby Americas
The UAR is looking to the future and it comes with Super Rugby Americas. Argentina is seeking at least two more domestic teams to play in the competition. Super Rugby Americas 2023 and 2024 contain Los Pampas in Buenos Aires and Los Dogos in Córdoba. The northern rugby heartland province of Tucumán is a strong candidate for expansion. Additional options are spread around the republic.

Legendary former Argentina Coach to take charge of American Raptors
The American Raptors have new coaching staff for Super Rugby Americas 2024. The Colorado team will be coached by Marcelo Loffreda. The legendary former Head Coach of Argentina takes over from Sarah Chobot who will have a scrum specialist role in 2024. Loffreda earned 46 test caps for Argentina as a Puma from 1978-1994. He coached Argentina from 2000-2007, seeing Los Pumas win Bronze at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

UNDER

Eight and counting for Peñarol
The player exodus from the Super Rugby Americas Champions is eight and counting. Manuel Ardao, Felipe Etcheverry and Tomás Inciarte are off to the Miami Sharks. Ignacio Péculo and Guillermo Pujadas are now Chicago Hounds while Facundo Gattas remains at Old Glory DC. Diego Arbelo plays in Italy now while Felipe Aliaga was to join New York. Incoming coach Leonardo Senatore will need to rebuild for Super Rugby Americas 2024.

Selknam Exodus Growing Too
Chile and Uruguay will gain from players departing. It will enable more opportunities for more players in Super Rugby Americas. However, Peñarol and Selknam will find it harder to compete against less affected teams. For now Santiago Videla, and Domingo Saavedra have moved to MLR. Augusto Bohme and Cóndores captain Martín Sigren also play in the league. Rodrigo Fernández now plays in Italy.

Nicolás Freitas Out for Six Months
Uruguayan Nicolás Freitas is to undergo surgery. The 30-year-old will be out of action for six months following the operation. This means he will not be involved in no professional rugby in the first half of 2024 including Super Rugby Americas. The operation will put an end to an ongoing injury. Freitas has been playing despite carrying a tendon injury in his shoulder. The surgery is scheduled for January 15, 2024. It will see him out of action until the mid-year internationals.

Pumas Legend Opts for Japan over MLR
Nicolás Sánchez was in talks to play for the Miami Sharks. It would have seen him and Tomás Cubelli both at the club alongside three World Cup Uruguayans and a Chilean. Sánchez is now focused on adding to his 104 test caps and sees playing in Japan as the ideal pathway. He and former Pumas captain Pablo Matera play their rugby in the Asian powerhouse.

Francisco Corria Sees Red
23-year-old Argentine prop Francisco Corria was red carded this past Thursday. Playing for Brive against Vannes in the French Pro D2, Corria was sent-off for foul play in the 79th minute. It happened with his team being 11-10 but Brive were able to win a penalty in overtime and kick the goal for a 13-11 victory.

Leaders Vannes Off the Pace
Vannes’ loss to Brive was the third in-a-row in the 2023-2024 Pro D2 season. Miraculously, Vannes remain top of the French second division. Provence are second to Vannes with 44 competition points. Uruguayan captain Andrés Vialseca and former Puma Francisco Gorrissen both started in the loss for Vannes against Brive.