Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
North America will play host to at least four men’s international tests in July. Sources have indicated to ARN that Spain will play both Canada and the USA, with the Netherlands set to take on the Maple Leafs and England booked for the Eagles. The matches will take place on the July 12/19 weekends at venues to be confirmed. It’s unclear if a third fixture for either will be arranged during the test window.
This will be the third time in under two years that the Eagles will have played Spain and the first time Los Leones have played a test on US soil since 2003. Both recent results were road victories for the Americans. Meanwhile the Eagles last played England at Twickenham in July of 2021. Despite defeat, the result earned the tourists plaudits for an encouraging four-try performance. As on that occasion, the Six Nations side will be traveling without players selected to this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour.
For England the USA stop will close out an Americas tour that begins with a two-test series against Los Pumas in Argentina. A non-cap match against a France XV will be played in London on June 21.
Canada overpowered the Netherlands in November of 2022. The Maple Leafs were due to return to Amsterdam this past November but the plans were scrapped. Spain inflicted heavy defeats on the Canadians at Ottawa in July 2022, and La Vila in November 2023. These will be incoming Head Coach Steve Meehan’s first tests in charge after being appointed to replace Kingsley Jones in December.
For both Canada and the USA the matches represent their last competitive runouts before the World Cup qualification process kicks off in the Pacific Nations Cup. Tonga and Samoa will be competing against them with three spots at Australia 2027 up for grabs. The bottom-ranked of the quartet will have another one-off opportunity to qualify, and a third chance in the last-gasp repechage.
USA (15)
July 12 – vs Spain (18)
July 19 – vs England (7)
CANADA (23)
July 12 – vs Netherlands (24)
July 19 – vs Spain (18)
(number indicates current World Rugby Ranking)
