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Toulouse are the 2024 Top 14 Champions. The final was one-sided; Toulouse blasted their way to a 59-3 victory over Bordeaux. The win included Pumas Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía. They started at outside center and on the right wing respectively. USA Eagle David Ainu’u was a replacement and a try scorer.
| EAGLE TRY SCORER |
David Ainu’u scored in the 79th minute for Toulouse. The Washington state rugby product scored under he posts. He did so from a pick-and-go; he had the power to get his way to the try line from six meters out and breaking two tackles.
| THREE TIME TOP 14 CHAMPIONS |
Toulouse is the most successful club in the history of French rugby. The club has more French titles than any other and also has more European Champions Cup titles than any other club. The south-west French side defeated Leinster 31-22 to win the 2024 European Champions Cup Final.
Toulouse’s crushing win over Bordeaux therefore means the team has completed the Champions Cup and Top 14 double. It also gives Toulouse three Top 14 titles in four years. Toulouse were 29-26 winners over La Rochelle in 2023 with Santiago Chocobares scoring and 18-8 winners, also over La Rochelle, in 2021.
Ainu’u arrived in Toulouse on an academy contract in 2017. He played for the USA at Rugby World Cup 2019 but was not involved in the 2019 Top 14 Final. He also missed out on the 2021 and 2023 finals. His try in the 2024 final thus comes with added personal value.
In becoming three time Top 14 champions, Chocobares and Mallía are now tied with Patricio Albacete. The former Pumas second-rower holds the Argentine record for three Top 14 titles. He won with Toulouse in 2008, 2011 and 2012. Many other Pumas have two titles but Albacete, Chocobares and Mallía are alone in having won three times.
| MATCH VIDEO – TOP 14 FINAL |
| JULY INTERNATIONALS – USA AND AINU’U |
The USA will play two home test matches in July. The Eagles will face Romania in Chicago on July 5th and Scotland in DC on July 12th. Head Coach Scott Lawrence named a 30-man roster with all but six of the group currently based in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Ainu’u was not included. His non-selection comes down to the fact that the dates of the Eagles’ two matches fall early in the month of July and the Top 14 season ended lat in June. In short, Ainu’u is deemed unavailable.
Starting the new Rugby World Cup cycle without Ainu’u is unfortunate. It comes with the USA set to play in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) outside of the player release window. As such, the USA’s player management of Ainu’u is a delicate subject.
| JULY INTERNATIONALS – ARGENTINA, CHOCOBARES AND MALLÍA |
It is a similar case for Argentina, though with an important difference: the Rugby World Cup. Argentina were Semi Finalists in the World Cup last October. The USA did not qualify for the tournament. Pumas’ players have not had an off-season and World Rugby still does not have a global season.
Argentina face France in Mendoza on July 06th and in Mendoza on July 13th. Los Pumas then travel across the Rio de la Plata to face Uruguay in Maldonado on July 20th.
Player management from Felipe Contepomi has seen Juan Cruz Mallía officially rested for the July Internationals against France and Uruguay. Santiago Chocobares was named on roster but with Toulouse reaching the final, Contepomi called-up the uncapped Justo Piccardo.
Mallía played more than Chocobares this season for Toulouse. The center from Rufino had a period of injury recovery and is thus considered an option for July. He will now travel home to Argentina to join up with the team in Mendoza. Chocobares will not be considered for the test match in Mendoza but he will be considered for the test match in Buenos Aires.
