Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.

UP

Cafeteros Pro
Colombia’s first professional team is up and running. Cafeteros drafted ten players from Argentina for the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. The players are an impressive array of talent. Loosehead prop Javier Corvalán, hooker Agustín Acosta, second rowers Ramiro Tallone and Lautaro Simes, back rowers Felipe Puertas and Aníbal Panceyra Garrido, scrumhalf Gonzalo García, flyhalf Nicolás Roger, center Facundo Ferrario, and fullback Facundo Pueyrredón. Four have played for the Argentina XV.

Olímpia Lions
The Paraguayan side will also be Argentine-heavy for SLAR 2021. Last week saw 15 players joining the team for the upcoming season. Some are back for a second season, others are joining from Ceibos and some will have a first taste of professional rugby. Signed up are props Rodrigo Martínez and Lucas Favre, hooker Axel Zapata, second row Carlos Repetto, back rowers Jerónimo Gómez Vara, Lucas Santa Cruz, and Nicolás Proto, scrumhalves Ignacio Inchauspe and Joaquín Pellandini, flyhalves Máximo Ledesma and Martín Roger, centers Franco Bullentini and Santiago Resino, and wingers Martín Begado and Leopoldo Herrera.

Peñarol
The complete roster of the Montevideo-based franchise is set to be revealed. This past week saw the first two names, both of whom are from Argentina. Scrumhalf Manuel Nogués will play for Peñarol, doing so after lining up for Carrasco Polo in the 2020 Uruguayan Championship. Also joining is fellow former Pumitas cap Nahuel Milan. The giant second row joins having spent the past season playing for Lazio in Italy.

Selknam
Another soon to release their roster is Chile’s entry. Last week saw four players unveiled. Three were the returning Argentine trio of loose forward Bautista Stavile, scrumhalf Patricio Baronio, and flyhalf Ignacio Albornoz. Also joining is lock or eightman Santiago Portillo who was drafted from Ceibos. Selknam also revealed that former Pumas Sevens standout Nicolás Bruzzone will be the head coach in 2021 as Pablo Lemoine directs his focus to the Cóndores.

Perpignan
Pro D2 side Perpignan are back on the radar of Americas rugby for two reasons. First the club signed Patricio Fernández from Lyon this past week. Secondly former Jaguares captain Jerónimo de la Fuente made his debut on Saturday. de la Fuente’s debut was a 41-34 win over Aix-en-Province. The win sees Perpignan move to the top of the Pro D2. Fernández and de la Fuente may be playing in the Top 14 next season. The Argentine duo are poised to be the 10-12 combination for the Catalans.

Rachel Johnson and Joanna Kitlinski
Two more USA internationals joined the Exeter Chiefs in the Premier 15s this past week. Flanker Rachel Johnson and hooker Joanna Kitlinski make it five Eagles and nine North Americans in all at Sandy Park. Johnson joins Eagles captain Kate Zackary in Exeter’s back row. Kitlinski will compete against Canadian counterpart Emily Tuttosi for the starting No2 shirt.

AJ MacGinty
Sale were 20-13 winners over Worcester Warriors on Friday. AJ MacGinty scored 10 points for the Sharks. The USA Eagles fly half slotted two penalties and converted both of Sale’s tries. MacGinty is the leading point scorer in the English Premiership season thus far.

South Americans in Top 14
In addition to de la Fuente’s debut there were further strong showings from South Americans in England and France this past weekend. Matías Orlando scored his first try in the English Premiership as Newcastle defeated Gloucester. Bautista Delguy scored two tries in Bordeaux’s big win over Lyon. Benjamín Urdapilleta scored 11 points in Castres’ win over Agen. Santiago Arata had a solid match inside Urdapilleta. Marcos Kremer scored his first try for Stade Français.

Taylor Paris
The Canadian flyer had a strong showing this past week. He went over for a try – his 4th of the season – in just the 2nd minute for Oyonnax against Grenoble. What started so well for Oyonnax ended badly. The team spent the final quarter short-handed due to cards and Grenoble came back to take a 35-27 road win. Oyonnax have slipped to 4th on the ladder but remain in position to mount a challenge for promotion.

UNDER

Will Ceibos Survive?
The Argentine Rugby Union have determined that the country’s team in SLAR will be Los Jaguares not Los Ceibos. The decision means that Ceibos have come and gone. The UAR had sought a competition for the Jaguares, and settled to protecting Jaguares brand at the expense of Ceibos. This sees the private investment from Rosario businessman Fernando Riccomi sacrificed. Riccomi had a long-term contract; Ceibos were secure of a place in SLAR until 2026. There remains a chance both teams could compete in 2022.

Ceibos Exodus
Argentina’s professional teams from 2020 have both lost many players. Like Los Jaguares, Los Ceibos have experienced a player exodus abroad. 16 players from the 2021 SLAR roster are playing their rugby abroad in 2021. Others are to follow. The forthcoming roster for the Argentine team for the 2021 season will contain a handful of Super Rugby players in addition to some 2020 Ceibos caps and other talent, primarily from the national u20 program.

Corinthians
Brazil’s team identity is also clouded. Soccer giants Corinthians were the brand name in 2020, yet the club did not pay anything whatsoever to Brazilian rugby. For 2021 the club remains unwilling to contribute financially to the rugby team. Meanwhile the management have resisted padding the side with Argentine players. The number is set to be four with hooker Santiago Grippo, lock Manuel Bernstein, and versatile backs Franco Giudice, and Marcos de Sanctis joining. The Brazilian team appears to be entering SLAR below the strength of others.

Jennine Duncan
There was very bad news this past week for Jennine Duncan. The Eagles winger had her season come to an early end, suffering a serious hamstring injury. Exeter moved quickly to replace Duncan. The club recruited Ireland international Laura Sheehan.

Cancelations
2021 is yet to leave 2020 behind; match cancelations continue to be a norm in European leagues. Some leagues are taking the attitude of rescheduling matches, other are requiring points to teams deemed to be victimized by another. This has affected many players from the Americas and this past weekend this continued to be the case. The problem is far from being resolved. So much so that there is no guarantee that there will be home internationals in the Americas in July.