Argentina

Argentina XV Head Coach Felipe Contepomi has named a highly aggressive team to face Canada. In naming his side he has declared to attack the North Americans in Langford. As a player Contepomi was a part of the changing of the guard. From Grizz Wylie’s tight game plan to increasingly …

Argentine prop Felipe Arregui has confirmed his return home to Los Jaguares from Europe. Having joined Edinburgh on a short-term deal the 22-year-old is now to bolster the Loose Head prop options for Super Rugby. Arregui linked up with Edinburgh as a medical joker in October. The move was green-lighted by …

The Eagles are on the same level as Canada when it comes to burning desire for more high level competition for their best domestic talent. Their player numbers are increasing and yet there is no nationwide agreement on player pathway. PRO Rugby afforded a glimmer of hope but its demise …

Belief remains that foreign-based Pumas will be selected. It is this rationale which has been put forward from Facundo Isa to account for his imminent departure from Argentina to continue his professional career in France. The star No 8 told Argentina’s test manager that “he had given his word to a …

Sergio Parisse is to Captain Italy against Wales. The Argentine born and raised player will play in his regular position of No 8. Head Coach Conor O’Shea has named thirteen Italian-based players in the starting lineup. In playing Parisse will earn his 122 test cap. It is three more than the …

Americas players have long been forced to balance their professional club careers with international availability, with test rugby often coming second in terms of priority, at least outside of the World Cup. Things have been further complicated with the UAR’s new policy of excluding European-based professionals from Pumas selection. There …

Canada’s thirst for more high level fixtures was quenched in 2016 with the addition of the Americas Rugby Championship proving a major step in the development of top amateur talent. While not quite top flight competition, the games gave the best of Canada’s domestic players a chance to test themselves …

Our last weekend focused on domestic rugby until the end of March was an interesting one. With no Premiership or Pro 12 we were given the two French divisions and the Anglo-Welsh cup to pine over, with no players coming from the Championship. Thankfully there were plenty of decent performances …

Like Brazil, the Chileans have benefited greatly from the re-development of the Americas Rugby Championship. Their 2016 total of 11 tests is almost three times as many as the four they played in 2015, and the first time they’ve had more than seven in a calendar year since 2005. While …

The Breakthrough Player of the Year is somewhat of a loosely defined category. It doesn’t necessitate that a player has achieved international stardom, nor does it require a player to necessarily have achieved international recognition at all. Any player who has demonstrated a significant rise in their standards over the …