Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Week 21 of the Pro D2 season begins today in France. The country’s second division professional league will see matches played on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The following preview details the involvement of Americas’ players.
In the only Thursday fixture Carcassonne have home advantage against the in-form Nevers. Argentine second-rower Demian Panizzo will play from the bench for Carcassonne while the Canadian veteran of prior RWC tournaments, Conor Trainor starts the match at outside center.
On Friday Uruguayan RWC certainty Agustín Ormaechea will start at home for Mont de Marsan against Aurillac. Jerónimo Negrotto joins him in the starting line-up, at loose head prop while Carlos Muzzio will cover tight head from the bench. The son of Pumas legend Mauricio Reggiardo and a former Pumita himself, Bernard Reggiardo will be Aurillac’s replacement scrum-half.
Chilean loose head prop Ramón Ayarza will again play out of position at hooker. He has been named on the bench for Bayonne’s trip to Bourg en Bresse on Friday. His Cóndores teammate, Pablo Huete, will be on the bench for Charente against Biarritz as will Argentine prop Joel Sclavi.
On the mediterranean coast Sebastián Poet will feature for Colomiers in the teams away match against Colomiers. He has been named as a replacement.
Finally up in Vannes Oyonnax will be looking for an away victory. The former Top 14 side will again start Manuel Leindekar in the second-row. Having impressed recently for the club he has been praised by some to the extent that he has been dubbed the Uruguayan Eben Etzebeth.
Concluding week 21 will be Montauban at home against Brive on Sunday. Lie-ups for this match will be announced on Saturday afternoon.
