Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
France play host to Italy in the Six Nations on Friday. This sees no Top 14 fixture taking place this weekend on Friday. Instead Week 18 of the French Championship has five Saturday fixtures with the two remaining two being played on Sunday.
With only one exception, all eight Americas players in action are from South America. US-eligible Irish-born prop Dave Ryan is that exception, he starts in the Agen front row alongside Facundo Bosch in their trip to Paris. Home team Stade Français have exiled Pumas prop Ramiro Herrera among their reserves.
Castres have a vital home game against rivals Lyon, a must-win situation if they hope to make the playoffs. Rodrigo Capó Ortega captains the side wearing his usual No5 with Benjamín Urdapilleta goal kicker and flyhalf.
Axel Müller starts on the wing for relegation-resigned Oyonnax in their road game against Clermont Auvergne at Marcel Michelin. In Pau, visiting Racing 92 have named Argentine lock Patricio Albacete in their run-on side.
Arguably the biggest game of the weekend is on Sunday when La Rochelle host Toulon at Marcel Deflandre. Samu Manoa has not been named in the training group but Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Facundo Isa are both present. A match day squad will be named on Saturday.
