Only eight Americas players will be on show in the Greene King IPA Championship this weekend, all Canadian bar one lone Argentinean. With some injured and others rested, it’s far from fast times in Europe for our intrepid exports these days.
Saturday’s action has no8 Richard Thorpe leading London Welsh for the 4th consecutive time as they host Rotherham Titans at Old Deer Park. The Canadian international announced this week that he will be retiring from professional rugby at the close of the season.
Justin Blanchet is one of three Canadian blindside flankers on offer, lining up for Bedford Blues against Ealing Trailfinders. Aaron Flagg will line up Yorkshire Carnegie in the same spot for Moseley, and Evan Olmstead returns on the side of the scrum for London Scottish. Olmstead will have a pair of Canuck second rows to shake hands with as Doncaster start Jon Phelan and have Tyler Hotson on the bench.
Bristol will host Cornish Pirates at Ashton Gate on Sunday, with prop Gastón Cortes selected on the bench as the only South American on offer this week. Pirates meanwhile have changed their entire starting lineup, with lock Brett Beukeboom the only player retained after the loss to Doncaster last week.