Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Greene King IPA Championship will be come to more than a dozen Americas internationals this season with several new arrivals adding to the returnees. Opening weekend will feature 11 Americas players, all of whom have played test rugby.
Friday’s season opener will see two Canadians making their Championship debut. Jake Ilnicki starts at tighthead prop and Dan Moor on the wing as Yorkshire Carnegie starts their season on the road at Hartpury College.
On Saturday there are three US Eagles caps and one Canadian. Ronnie McLean starts in the midfield for Richmond in their derby match against London Scottish. Dino Waldren won’t see action as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery in May.
Andrew Durutalo will play openside flanker for Ealing with former USA teammate Bryce Campbell making his European professional debut for London Irish at inside center. Ciaran Hearn is on the bench for the Exiles, set to make his first regular season appearance after missing the best part of a year with a serious knee injury.
Both of Sundays matches will feature head-to-head match-ups. Matt Evans is on the wing and second row Brett Beukeboom captains Cornish Pirates for their home opener against Doncaster Knights. Opposing the Canadian lock in the lineout will be Eagles regular Nick Civetta.
At Nottingham it will be two No10s opposite each other. Canada’s Shane O’Leary makes his debut while the visiting Bedford Blues will run out new Eagles select Will Hooley.
