Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Super Rugby Americas 2024 kicks-off on Friday. The season opener will see Los Dogos playing at home in Córdoba, Argentina against the American Raptors.
Coach Nicolás Galatro took Los Dogos to the 2023 Super Rugby Americas Final. His side for the 2024 season opener demonstrates plenty of continuity. One notable change is that of the leadership. Regular captain Franco Molina is back following surgery to skipper the side from the second-row.
Molina could be described as a Puma in waiting. Galatro’s side also contains others to keep a close eye on. Scrum-half Agustín Moyano had an outstanding rookie season for Los Dogos in 2023. Mateo Soler was dangerous from fullback and Boris Wenger has the skill-set and strength that the modern game requires of elite hookers.
The match will be the first for David Butcher. The new Head Coach of the American Raptors has chosen Diego Fortuny to lead his side. The former Puma will captain the Raptors from hooker. He will be joined by Facundo Pomponio in the front-row and Uruguayan Diego Magno at N8.
Argentine involvement can also be found in the backs. Thomas Moroni will start on the left wing and Francisco Quinn at fullback. They are both eligible for the USA. The only Eagle in the side is scrum-half Devereaux Ferris. Other Raptors may be capped in July.
Former Scotland speedster Rufus McLean will make his debut for the Raptors. He will be eligible to play for the USA beginning in August 2025. Promising USA center Aki Pulu starts at inside center.
The match will be the third between Los Dogos and the American Raptors. The teams locked horns in Denver with the home side falling to a 24-37 defeat. The rematch was also won by the Argentine side. Los Dogos won 40-32 in Córdoba.
DOGOS
1 Santiago Pulella, 2 Boris Wenger, 3 Octavio Filipa, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Ignacio Gandini, 8 Efraín Elías, 9 Agustín Moyano, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Ernesto Giudice, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Mateo Soler
Replacements: 16 Tomás Barolini, 17 Juan Francisco Aguirre, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Lorenzo Colidio, 20 Valentín Cabral, 21 Nicolás Viola, 22 Juan Bautista Baronio, 23 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo
RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Javon Camp-Villalovos, 5 Mikey Grandy, 6 Alexander Vainikolo, 7 Aidan Christians, 8 Diego Magno, 9 Deveraux Ferris, 10 Patrick Madden, 11 Thomas Morani, 12 Aki Pulu, 13 Zach Hall, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Francisco Quinn
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Koby Baker, 19 William Crawford, 20 Shawn Clark, 21 Tommy Clark, 22 John Lefevre, 23 Watson Filikitonga
Date: Friday, February 16
Kick-Off: 7pm (AR); 3pm (MST)
Venue: Tala RC (Córdoba, AR)
Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero
Assistant Referees: Simón Larrubia, Juan López.
TMO: Gustavo Paulín
HISTORIC RESULTS
March 24, 2023 – American Raptors 24-37 Dogos (Denver, Colorado, US)
May 21, 2023 – Dogos 40-32 American Raptors (Córdoba, AR)
