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

Argentina Name Pumas Legend Felipe Contepomi as Head Coach
Argentina will have a new Head Coach for the new Rugby World Cup cycle. Australian Michael Cheika took charge of Los Pumas in 2022-2023. The new cycle sees Pumas legend Felipe Contepomi taking over. Contepomi takes charge of Los Pumas at the age of 46. It comes a decade after he retired as a player. Contepomi played for Argentina from 1998–2013. He was a Puma throughout this period and played for Los Pumas 7’s from 1998-2002.

Uruguayans Now Head Coaches of Three South American Countries
For a long time there was one, sometimes none and now there are three. Colombia have joined Brazil and Chile in being coached by an Uruguayan. Luis Pedro Achard was unveiled this past week as the new man in charge of Los Tucanes. Achard joins Emiliano Caffera as Os Tupis Head Coach and Pablo Lemoine as Head Coach of Los Cóndores. Uruguay remain without a Head Coach.

Mexico Federation confirms MLR interest, SRA also in plans
Mexico’s Rugby Federation (FMRU) has confirmed reports that they are targeting a Major League Rugby franchise in Monterrey. A statement indicates they are also pursuing a Super Rugby Americas Franchise, though a timetable was not presented for either project. Rather than debating which competition is most suitable for Mexico, it appears the FMRU is prepared to commit to both of them.

Argentina Preparing for New Opponent in 2024
After facing France in Argentina on July 06 and 13, 2024, Los Pumas will face a Tier 2 opponent. This team remains unnamed; however, ARN can confirm that there have been advanced discussions about Los Pumas playing their July 20 test match against a neighbor. Uruguay at home against Los Pumas in Jul, 2024? Sí, por favor.

New MLR Team in Los Angeles Unveiled
Major League Rugby is officially back in Los Angeles. Months after the league announced that the Atlanta franchise would be relocated to the west coast, the new owners group has at last lifted the lid on the team’s identity. The new club will be called Rugby FC Los Angeles. There are few similarities between the now-defunct LA Giltinis and RFC LA, and the team’s home turf will also be different.

Miami Sharks sign fourth World Cup Uruguayan
MLR newcomers the Miami Sharks continue their player recruitment. The latest on his way to southern Florida is Reinaldo Piussi. The 24-year-old is the fourth Uruguayan to sign for Miami. All four featured at Rugby World Cup 2023. Piussi is a product of Carrasco Polo Club in Montevideo. He moved to France to join Oyonnax Espoirs whom he featured for from 2018-2020. He subsequently returned to his native Uruguay to enter the Uruguayan High Performance system.

San Diego Legion Secure Wallabies Legend
Matt Giteau is returning to Major League Rugby. The former Australia and LA Giltinis great will make a shock return to the competition in 2024 with the San Diego Legion. It’s a remarkable announcement given he is now 41 years old and hasn’t played professionally since the end of the 2021 campaign. After lifting the MLR Shield with LA that season Giteau extended his deal with the Giltinis for a second campaign, but injury prevented him from taking the field in 2022 and he confirmed his retirement in February of this year.

How Many World Cup 2027 Slots for the Americas?
The Americas is a major player in the sport of rugby. Argentina have competed at every Men’s Rugby World Cup, including reaching the Semi Finals in three of the past five tournaments. Canada played in all tournaments from 1987-2019 while the USA missed out on 1995 and 2023. Chile debuted at Rugby World Cup 2023 while the same tournament was Uruguay’s fifth Men’s Rugby World Cup. This raises the question of how many slots will the Americas be granted for Rugby World Cup 2027?

Emiliano Boffelli is Back
Puma Emiliano Boffelli made his first appearance of the season for Edinburgh. His returned for the Scottish derby in the URC. It was his first match since the Rugby World Cup Bronze Final against England. Meanwhile, Juan Cruz Mallía is now back in training for Toulouse. Santiago Cordero and Santiago Grondona are both working hard to be fit later on in the season for Connacht and the Bristol Bears.

Argentines Score Tries in Europe
The Christmas round of rugby in Europe’s elite saw tries from Argentines in all three leagues. Bautista Bernasconi scored in Benetton’s win away against Zebre. Fellow uncapped Argentine Gerónimo Prisciantelli scored nine points for the Parma side. Lucas Paulos scored for Bayonne against Perpignan with Joaquín Oviedo scoring for Perpignan. Agustín Creevy scored for Sale Sharks while Córdoba’s Matías Alemanno and Santiago Carreras both scored for Gloucester.

 

 

UNDER

Rodrigo Silva Bows Out from Uruguayan High Performance and Test Duty
Rodrigo Silva has called it a day. The veteran Uruguayan fullback has decided to not continue on in the Uruguayan High Performance system. Silva has bowed out both from Peñarol in Super Rugby Americas and from Los Teros. Silva started in Los Teros‘ farewell match of the campaign, the loss against New Zealand in Lyon. He also played against Wales in Cardiff at Rugby World Cup 2015, Australia in Birmingham, Fiji in Milton Keynes and England in Manchester in addition to 2019 matches against Fiji in Kamaishi, Georgia in Kumagaya, Australia in Oita and Wales in Kumamoto.

Retirement Call from Conor McManus
Making a surprise decision to retire is Conor McManus. Originally from New Zealand, the scrumhalf had represented the USA at u19 level and was tipped by some to graduate to Eagles honors. McManus was plagued by injury this past season but at just 24 years old his best years were still ahead of him.

Pumas Injury Watch
In his first appearance after the World Cup, Gonzalo Bertranou was injured for the Dragons. The Argentine scrum half is now officially out until at least February. Former Puma Benjamín Urdapilleta suffered a shoulder injury for Clermont on Saturday. Winger Mateo Carreras was hurt as a victim of foul play while playing for the Newcastle Falcons this past weekend.

Rugby and Geography Don’t Match
Europe’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup do not feature teams from Rugby World Cup 2023 competitors Georgia, Portugal, or Romania. They do, however, feature teams from South Africa. Could it be that the European Club champion will be the Bulls or the Stormers. Rugby and geography are a mess at the best and the worst of times. With the sport seeking to grow, getting the basics right would be nice. At least the Raptors in Super Rugby Americas makes sense. In Spanish the winner is proclaimed the champion of the Americas.

Emerging Pumas Fly Half Options
A constant question, and before, the Michael Cheika era was is Santiago Carreras a fly half? Age ruled out Benjamin Urdapilleta and also meant Nicolás Sánchez was out of favor. Tomás Albornoz was tried but unable to secure his place. Gerónimo Prisciantelli has been impressing this season for Zebre and Domingo Miotti has also stuck up his hand; he played well despite his team losing heavily this past weekend. Indeed; Unfortunately for them, Zebre and Oyonnax are near the bottom of the URC and Top 14.

Biarritz Pro D2 in Spain
An interesting development over the weekend is for historic French powers Biarritz to move to be based in San Sebastián. This would see the Basque team crossing the border. It is a far larger city and home matches have been highly successful in the past; however, it means a former power would be buried with a new identity taking over. French champions as recently as 2006, Biarritz are now in the Pro D2. Many Americas players have worn Biarritz’ colors over the decades.