Canada

On this day in 1999 Gareth Rees played his final match for Canada. In what was his 55th appearance the fly half helped his country to a record 72-11 victory over Namibia in Toulouse, France. The fixture was part of Rugby World Cup 1999. Despite it being Wales 1999 Canada …

As the Southern Hemisphere domestic competitions wind down, the two elite cross-European club competitions are just getting started this weekend. The Challenge Cup is the second tier below the Champions club but still a high level event with teams from the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro 12, and Top 14 all …

While the Top 14 teams are all engaged in European competition this weekend, the Pro D2 continues its arduous season as it enters Week 7 of 30. Eight teams out of the 16 in action will feature Americas players this weekend, with Argentina, Canada, and Uruguay represented. Six games take …

The Southern Hemisphere’s top domestic competitions are starting to wrap up as New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup enters its 9th and final week of regular season play, while Australia’s National Rugby Championship has reached the semi-finals stage. Americas players will feature in both over the next few days. Jake Ilnicki …

Canadian three-quarter Phil Mackenzie has been sidelined indefinitely with a concussion suffered during training in Montevideo. As a result he will play no part in the Americas Pacific Challenge and will almost certainly miss out on the November test series as well. Mackenzie confirmed the news via social media. It’s …

The home fans had little to cheer about as Uruguay ‘A’ were pulverized by the Argentina XV to the tune of 71 points on Wednesday. A try to Andrés Rocco early in the second half saved Uruguay the added embarrassment of a shutout, but it was otherwise one-way traffic with …

A dreadful second half collapse saw Canada ‘A’ drop their Americas Pacific Challenge match to the USA Selects by a final score of 47-37. On paper the 10-point margin is disappointing but not in itself distressing. The manner of the loss, however, will require much review after Canada surrendered 34 …

The Fiji Warriors have kept their Americas Pacific Challenge title hopes alive with a comfortable 39-26 win over Samoa ‘A’ in Montevideo on Wednesday. While the score leaned strongly towards the Fijians they were made to work for it with Samoa staying within one score until the final quarter. There …

Federico Anselmi has been named in the World Rugby match officials panel for the November test series. The leading Americas referee will take charge of Georgia’s match against Japan in Tbilisi on November 12, and Spain’s match against Uruguay in Malaga on November 19. He will also assist Craig Joubert …

A great week of rugby with the Americas Pacific Challenge getting underway while the Rugby Championship and South American ‘B’ Championship sign off. The Aviva Premiership was in full flight, there were good performances in the Mitre 10 Cup, and amazingly not a single player has been picked from France …