Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The business end of the European season is rapidly approaching. This weekend sees Week 20 of the Top 14 taking place in France. It is a vital weekend for all involved as places in the playoffs are proving to be highly competitive.
The fight to avoid relegation is also very much alive with Agen and Oyonnax both having surprised many with recent wins. In addition the 2015 champions, Stade Français, are in serious trouble.
For many it is a round with players missing to the Six Nations. This impacts on most but benefits some. Those with few to no players on international duty are to gain greatly. Of the seven matches all involve clubs with players from the Americas though not all have named them.
Juan Imhoff will ride the bench for Racing 92 for their trip to Montpellier. Fellow Argentine winger Axel Müller will do the same for Oyonnax as they travel to Bordeaux.
The big showdown on Saturday, for the Americas at least, will be Agen at Toulon. Leandro Cedaro will start at lock for the visitors with Ignacio Mieres at flyhalf. For the home team there will be two Pumas on the flanks in Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Facundo Isa, with US Eagles behemoth Samu Manoa among the replacements.
Sunday’s rosters have yet to be confirmed. Castres are likely to utilise both Rodrigo Capó Ortega and Benjamín Urdapilleta for their away match in Paris against Ramiro Herrera and Stade Français. Lyon have their own Pumas tighthead in Francisco Gómez Kodela for their road game against Toulouse.
