Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It identifies the tops and the flops from the past seven days of everything involving Americas Rugby.

 

UP

Historic Olympic Medal wins for Canada and the USA
North American rugby received a major boost after both Canada and the USA reached the podium in the Women’s Sevens at the Paris Olympics. The Maple Leafs produced another stunning upset in the Semi Final to eventually capture a best-ever Silver Medal, while the Eagles then beat the Wallaroos in the Bronze Final to celebrate the USA’s first ever Olympic 7s medal.

Multi-Million Dollar boost for Women’s Eagles
The Eagles can celebrate more than just an Olympic medal. Following their historic showing in Paris, medical tech entrepreneur Michele Kang has pledged $4M USD in support to the sevens program for the build-up to the 2028 Olympics that will be hosted in Los Angeles. Kang also owns three professional women’s soccer clubs including the Washington Spirit.

Free Jacks beat Seawolves to claim second straight MLR title
The New England Free Jacks are Major League Rugby champions for a second straight year. A league record crowd of just over 12,000 watched the team from Boston defeat the Seattle Seawolves 20-11 in San Diego, with the suffocating Free Jacks defense ultimately proving the difference.

Four newcomers in Women’s Eagles squad for Japan tour
Uncapped quartet Emerson Allen, Sophie Lamphier, Sophie Pyrz, and Sariah Ibarra have been named in the senior Women’s Eagles squad for their upcoming tour to Japan. Tests are scheduled for August 11 and 17 with Tess Feury named captain in the absence of Kate Zackary, Rachel Johnson, and Hope Rogers.

November tours to Europe in store for Canada and USA
Canada and the USA will both be traveling to Europe in November with a three-test tour for each in the works. The end-of-year series will close what has been a more complete calendar for both sides after a comparatively sparse 2023. The Eagles will face Portugal, Tonga and Spain while Canada will take-on the Netherlands, Romania and Chile.

Uruguay with solid 2024 November Internationals
Uruguay will play three test matches in Europe in November. The matches will be part of the November 2024 Internationals. Los Teros will be up against familiar opposition from recent years. The test matches will see the South Americans facing Spain, Japan and Romania. All matches will be in Europe including the fixture against the Asian no 1.

Argentina Boosted for Rugby Championship
The 31-man Argentine roster sees Lucio Cinti, Agustín Creevy, Juan Martín González, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía and Joel Sclavi all returning. They all played for Los Pumas at Rugby World Cup 2023. There is also a place for the uncapped Efraín Elías who captained Argentina at the recent World Rugby u20 Championship.

USA looms as potential host of Nations Championship Final
The USA looms as a potential host of the Nations Championship Final. Organizers are looking for a Plan B after staging the event in Doha, Qatar derailed. Doha was involved in exclusive negotiations for the biennial tournament. With the USA being the hosts of Rugby World Cup 2023, the USA option will be pushed by World Rugby.

Battle of the Andes set for July 2025
Chile vs Argentina will be a part of the 2025 July Internationals. The match means Los Pumas will replicate the July 2024 match against Uruguay in Punta del Este by this time facing Chile. Chile played host to Hong Hong, Belgium and Scotland in the July 2024 Internationals. It was a successful series with wins over Hong Kong and Belgium and a los against Scotland in front of a record Chilean rugby attendance of 24,878.

Chile Secures Three Match November Tour
Chile is to play a three match tour in November. ARN has learned that Los Cóndores will play three matches in Europe as part of the annual November Internationals. Chile will face Canada, the Netherlands and Scotland ‘A’ in Europe. Dates and venues for the matches have not yet been finalized. The South America vs North America battle of Chile vs Canada will not be played in the Americas. It is to take-place at a neutral venue in Europe.

2024 South American Tour for the Argentina XV
Argentina’s next-of-XV will tour South America for three matches. The Argentina XV will face Brazil, Uruguay and Chile in away matches in August and September. The Argentina XV will be made-up of players from Argentine Super Rugby Americas teams Los Dogos, Los Pampas XV and potentially from other teams such as Yacare as well as members of Los Pumitas from the World Rugby u20 Championship. The u20 captain, Efraín Elías, was a part of Los Dogos winning campaignin Super Rugby Americas 2024. Elías is now with Los Pumas in New Zealand.

 

UNDER

Brazil XV Humbled and Pummeled by Vancouver Highlanders
Brazil were humbled and pummeled in Canada on Saturday. The Brazilian next-of-XV, playing under the name Os Tupis XV, were humiliated at Klahanie Park in West Vancouver. The Vancouver Highlands were 77-7 winners in what was a reality check for Tupis XV Head Coach and Brazilian Technical Director, Josh Reeves.

Three European Referees to Debut in Rugby Championship; Still Zero Argentines
World Rugby has confirmed the referee appointments for the 2024 Rugby Championship. Pierre Brousset (France), Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Christophe Ridley (England) will debut as referees in the competition. No matches will be officiated by Argentines and no Americas referee has ever been appointed a Rugby Championship match.

Spanish-Speaking Rugby Thriving But Referees Ignored
World Rugby’s appointments of the Rugby Championship came with statements that the officials are getting ready for the next World Cup. Argentina vs Chile at the last World Cup was refereed entirely in English by a New Zealander who cannot speak Spanish. What is being done to change this for 2027? The answer at the present point in time is nothing.

Notable Missing Pumas from Rugby Championship 
Gloucester’s Matías Alemanno, Bordeaux’s Guido Petti and Bayonne’s Lucas Paulos are all missing. This is a notable shake-up in the second-rower with Franco Molina, who recently debuted against France, and the uncapped Efraín Elías selected. Jerónimo de la Fuente is missing due to personal choice. Santiago Grondona, Bautista Bernasconi and Emiliano Boffelli are injured. Joaquín Moro, who debuted against Uruguay with two tries, is missing as is Ignacio Mendy who scored a hat-trick in Punta del Este. World Cup N8 Rodrigo Bruni and scrum-half Tomás Cubelli have not been selected.

Failure to Agree on Staging Nations Championship 
The controversial Nations Championship is not yet off the ground but it continues to be surrounded by controversy. An agreement was close to being finalized but it was blocked by the Six Nations. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are unhappy with France and Ireland not favoring Doha. The bid was estimated at being £800m (US$1.26b) over six years. This represented £200m (US$257) per tournament for finals in Doha in 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032.