NOLA Gold have confirmed the death of winger Shawn Riley. The 30-year-old Wooster, Ohio, native passed away on Tuesday evening after experiencing severe complications following heart surgery. Riley joined the Gold in 2019, having previously played professionally for the Ohio Aviators in the 2016 PRO season. He made just two …

Castres have re-signed Benjamín Urdapilleta. The Argentine fly half will remain at the Tarns until mid-2022. His contract extension comes following an approach from Perpignan. The Catalans instead contracted fellow Argentine play-maker Patricio Fernández from Lyon. The veteran Urdapilleta joined Castres in 2015. He previously played for Oyonnax (2012-2015) and …

JP Smith is returning for a third season with the Seattle Seawolves. The 26-year-old scrumhalf follows fellow South African Riekert Hattingh in signing on for the 2021 Major League Rugby campaign. Both players were also part of the Ohio Aviators squad at the World Tens Series event in Bermuda. After …

The Austin Gilgronis have signed Australian hooker Hugh Roach for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Despite being just 28 years old he boasts seven Super Rugby campaigns as well as Shute Shield, National Rugby Championship, and Mitre 10 Cup experience. Roach represented Australia at two Junior World Championships before …

Peñarol have signed Facundo Gattas. In doing so the Uruguayan international will play in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby this year. Gattas joins Peñarol from Buenos Aires’ Hindú Club. The 25-year-old Gattas has 33 caps for Uruguay. He made his test debut in 2016 against Canada in the Americas …

Old Glory DC have confirmed the signing of Canadian international Luke Campbell for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old returns to the league after a year’s hiatus, having played five matches for the Toronto Arrows during the 2019 campaign. Campbell won his 13th test cap as a replacement …

José Ramón Ayarza is on his way back home from France. The Chilean loose head prop is joining Selknam for the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. He is doing so from French club Anglet. Ayarza is Chile’s leading loose head prop. The 27-year-old has 13 test caps …

The Houston SaberCats have added a third Fijian player for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. 23-year-old winger Veramu Dikidikilati arrives at his first professional club, joining from provincial side Naitasiri who compete in the local Skipper Cup. Dikidikilati is a dynamic ball carrier who stands 5’11” (1.80m) and weighs …

Peter Thorburn has passed away. The former USA Eagle Men’s Head Coach was 81-years-old. During his lengthily career Thorburn played for New Zealand provincial giants Auckland. Post retirement he turned to coaching. He was the first coach of North Harbour, beginning in 1985. It was a homecoming for the native of …

Selknam have added a fifth Argentine player for the upcoming season. The Chilean Super Liga Americana de Rugby franchise have signed Maximiliano Filizzola from Argentina Sevens. Maximiliano Filizzola joins the Santiago-based team from the across the border in Mendoza. He is a product of Marista rugby. The 24-year-old is 1.75m …

The San Diego Legion have confirmed a shock move to Las Vegas for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. An official announcement on social media noted that due to the impact of COVID-19 in Southern California, the team will not be able to play at their home venue of Torero Stadium. …

Juan Ignacio Brex has been confirmed on the Italy roster for the 2021 Six Nations. Head Coach Franco Smith has named the Argentine center on his 32-man roster. The selection comes following representative experience for Argentina. The Argentine born and raised player qualified for Italy via the Olympic loophole. Additional …

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 Francisco Gómez Kodela In his 100th appearance for Lyon, Gómez Kodela celebrated victory. His club overcame Montpellier 21-16 in …

Biarritz Olympique kept their promotion hopes intact with a 31-3 demolition of Montauban at Parc d’Aguilera on Saturday. Canada’s Evan Olmstead was again a top contributor with another 80 minute performance in a dominant BOPB forward effort. The result was very different to that of the first meeting between the …

Juan Imhoff scored in Racing 92’s loss today against Bordeaux. The Argentine speedster was a first-half try-scorer in a thrilling Top 14 match in Paris. Bordeaux pulls-off a 33-32 victory. The teams had been locked at 23-23 at half time. Imhoff scored in the 20th minute. His try saw him …

Francisco Gómez Kodela played his 100th match for Lyon today. He did so in a 21-16 away win over Montpellier. The 35-year-old Argentine tighthead has played for Lyon since 2016. He previously played for Biarritz (2011-2014) and Bordeaux (2014-2016). He moved to France from Buenos Aires. He is a product …

Prominent Argentine names have been confirmed as the Head Coaches of all Super Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) teams. All six men have noteworthy representative honors. Among them are playing in Rugby World Cups and at the Olympic Games.   ARGENTINA – JAGUARES XV Argentina’s SLAR entrant in 2020 was …

There will be a Brazilian math-up in the Italian Top 10. Colorno have recently recruited Brazilian test center Lorenzo Massari. His debut appearance is to be this weekend against Valorugby Emilia, the home of Brazilian second-rower Matteo Dell’Acqua. Valorugby Emilia and Colono will meet in an Emilia regional derby clash. The 23-year-old …

Former NFL running back Joey Iosefa has re-signed with the Seattle Seawolves for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 250-pound (114kg) center can now add international to his CV having represented his native American Samoa at the Oceania Olympic Qualifier event hosted by Fiji in 2019. Iosefa, 29, left …

The Austin Gilgronis have added another piece to their 2021 Major League Rugby puzzle. Loosehead prop Jake Turnbull has signed on from Old Glory DC. More recently the 27-year-old has been playing in his native Australia with Randwick in the Shute Shield. Turnbull holds the distinction of having played in …