Te Rangatira Waitokia is one of four players who have re-signed with Rugby ATL for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Joining the outside back on the returnee list are props Will Burke and Jonas Petrakopoulos, and blindside flanker Frederick Henry-Ajudua. Since arriving from New Zealand ahead of the 2021 …

Utah have announced the signing of scrumhalf Connor McLeod on a multi-year contract of unspecified length. The 25-year-old will arrive for the 2023 Major League Rugby season from Hawke’s Bay Magpies in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship. McLeod advanced through Otago’s age-grade system and represented NZ Universities in 2018 and …

Roman Salanoa has been named in the Ireland ‘A’ squad to prepare for Friday’s match against an All Black XV in Dublin. The 24-year-old tighthead prop from Hawai’i was one of a dozen names included on the list outside the main senior squad. It’s not the first time Salanoa will …

NOLA Gold have re-signed Alex Lopeti for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 23-year-old arrived in The Big Easy earlier this year after training with Austin during the preseason. Lopeti made the switch from loosehead prop to hooker this year, appearing in four games for the Gold. He then …

San Diego have re-signed prop Nathan Sylvia and flyhalf Josh Henderson for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The duo are the first returning players from the 2022 roster confirmed by the Legion, to go with five incoming professionals to date and two draft picks. Sylvia is one of just …

A promising Argentine second-rower is set to continue his career in France. Rodrigo Fernández Criado has been signed by Montauban to play in the Pro D2 for the 2022-2023 season. The move will mark the first foreign experience for the 24-year-old. Fernández Criado was a Súper Liga Americana de Rugby …

Old Glory DC have confirmed a second Major League Rugby campaign for winger Peni Lasaqa in the nation’s capital. The 22-year-old speedster is the 13th returning player to commit to the club during the off-season, following the likes of Jack Iscaro, Danny Tusitala, and Mike Dabulas. Lasaqa enjoyed his first …

The USA Falcons brought their South American trip to a close with a resounding 81-21 defeat at the hands of the Argentina XV on Tuesday. After a competitive opening 40 minutes, the wheels came off in the second half as the Argentines piled on 55 points at the Estadio Charrúa. …

The Toronto Arrows have confirmed contract extensions for two of their top young prospects. Tighthead prop Tyler Rowland and outside back Kobe Faust are the latest returning players to commit for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Rowland is entering his fourth year with the club having debuted during the …

Rugby ATL have announced the re-signing of openside flanker Matt Heaton through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old Canadian international has been co-captain of the side along with South African center Ryan Nell since their inaugural 2020 campaign. With Nell working his way back to fitness from a …

France have been hit with the loss of their top scrumhalf for the remainder of the World Cup. Laure Sansus ruptured ligaments in her knee during the 13-7 defeat to England on Saturday. It not only brings an end to her campaign, but also her international career. The 28-year-old from …

The 2022-2023 English Premiership season is beyond crisis point. The Worcester Warriors were suspended on September 26 and and the Wasps went into administration today. In the space of 21 days the English Premiership has changed from 13 teams to potentially 11. The Wasps will be relegated this season; that …

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 Canada Secure Quarter Final at Women’s World Cup Canada clinched their spot in the Quarter Finals with a 22-12 …

Seattle Seawolves star Ross Neal has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect. The 26-year-old says the decision was prompted by persistent symptoms resulting from concussion. Neal made the move from the English Premiership to Major League Rugby ahead of the 2020 season. He played just once during that …

Mogi das Cruzes in Greater São Paulo played host to Brazil vs Chile on Sunday. The fixture was the first in an Americas triangular series also featuring Canada. For Chile and Brazil the fixture was the third between the teams this year. Chile won matches in Santiago and Temuco as …

Canada clinched their spot in the Quarter Finals with a 22-12 win over Italy at Waitakere Stadium in their second match of the World Cup. Once again it was the strength of the Canadian forwards which proved the difference with a dominant set piece providing the platform for victory. It …

The USA overcame a woeful first half performance to beat Japan 30-17 in their second pool match of the World Cup in Whangarei. Numerous errors saw the underdogs taking a 5-3 lead to the break but the Eagles responded with 27 points in the second forty to keep their Quarter …

Namibia are set to field their strongest team since the 2019 World Cup on their two-test European tour in November. Head coach Allister Coetzee has named a 48-strong training squad that will first take on Griquas in Windhoek on November 5. The squad will then be trimmed for matches against …

Chile will field a team of near test-strength in the upcoming Americas Rugby Trophy matches against the Brazil XV and Canada ‘A’. The 28-man squad contains only four uncapped players and is largely comprised of those who suited up for Selknam during the 2022 SLAR season. The exceptions are Seattle …

A dominant second half gave the Cheetahs a 53-25 Toyota Challenge win over the USA Falcons in Bloemfontein on Friday. The visitors held a 20-17 lead at the intermission, but then slipped away to concede 29 unanswered points to their South African hosts. Early tries to Cohen Jasper and Sibabalo …