Samoa

An extensive injury list has forced Manu Samoa to make seven changes to their starting lineup to face Canada. From the team that lost 20-16 to Georgia last weekend, ruled out are hooker Manu Leiataua, second row Filo Paulo, flanker Jack Lam, and centre Reynold Lee-Lo. Another second row, Chris …

Canadian enforcer Jamie Cudmore is back to start against Samoa. The veteran will play his first test of November, doing so in Grenoble, France. The inclusion of Cudmore markes one of five changes from the side that faced Romania. Head Coach Mark Anscombe has also named Rob Brouwer, Nick Blevins, …

A full-course three-match tour to Europe is on deck for Canada in November with a daunting schedule against higher ranked teams in the form of Ireland, Romania, and Samoa. With controversial off-the-field business and a disappointing Americas Pacific Challenge putting a damper on Canadian enthusiasm, some good performances at test …

The draw has been made and the pools are set for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Belfast and Dublin will be host cities for the tournament that takes place in August, with 12 teams placed in three pools for the 8th edition of the biggest event in women’s rugby. …

The rumors were true. Just three months after announcing his retirement from the HSBC Sevens Series, Phil Mack has decided to pull on the Canadian jersey one more time. The 31-year-old is set to take his James Bay halfback partnership to the international stage along with another returnee, Connor Braid. …

Uruguay’s rugby system is a model for others. Those were the words of Mark Egan, World Rugby’s Head of Development and Performance. Egan’s positive evaluation of Uruguay’s progress follows World Rugby’s decision to allocate Montevideo with hosting rights of the 2017 Junior World Trophy. Egan was speaking to Ignacio Chans …

Connor Braid is back. The 26-year-old has not played for Canada since a nasty collision with Italy’s Gonzalo García last September left him with a broken jaw and a bad concussion. After reportedly contemplating retirement, he returned to the pitch with James Bay in the spring but did not make …

Manu Samoa head coach Alama Ieremia had confirmed a 33-man traveling squad for their European tour to face France, Georgia, and Canada in November. A number of overseas professionals are present along with five members of the Samoa ‘A’ team that participated in the Americas Pacific Challenge. Six uncapped players …

Through international competition rugby has expanded significantly. Over the duration of one generation there have emerged increasingly competitive teams from a variety of continents. Indeed Argentina, Japan and Georgia all lit up Rugby World Cup 2015. Yet many facets of rugby being an Old Boy’s Club remain strong. Few leading …

The Argentina XV defeated the Fiji Warriors by the slimmest of margins with Juan Cruz González’s conversion of a Pedro Ortega try in extra time handing the South Americans the win by 27-26 at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo on Sunday. In doing so Argentina have been named champions of …