Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.   UP Russia RWC 2027 bid Confirmed to be bidding for Rugby World Cup 2027 is Russia. The Rugby Europe Championship participants are …

Javier Ortega Desio has tested positive for COVID-19, the UAR has confirmed. The 30-year-old back-rower was named in Mario Ledesma’s training roster for the Rugby Championship. 46 Argentine-based players were selected for the Rugby Championship training regime. They have completed two weeks of training in Buenos Aires. In regards to …

Sydney’s Shute Shield competition is now through its 6th week of the season and players with Major League Rugby connections continue to make an impact. There are now nearly a dozen who have made an appearance, with a prominent new name showing up just a week ago. Paddy Ryan starred …

Paul Lasike put in an impressive performance against Saracens. The USA Eagles mid-fielder came off the bench to score a double for the Harlequins. He crossed for tries in the 59th and 74th minutes, doing so as an impact player from the bench. Prior to Lasike entering the match, the …

The RWC 2027 host will be named in May 2022. In that month the World Rugby Council will vote on the tournament hosts for both men’s Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2031. In addition, the governing body will also confirm the tournament hosts for the Women’s Rugby World Cups …

Reigning champions Old Christians Club impressed in week 1 of the 2020 Uruguayo de Clubes. The team were 61-5 winners over fellow Montevideo side, Ceibos. The match was one of five in the first round of any rugby in the Americas since March. Carrasco Polo also won by an impressive …

Joaquín Riera was a try scorer for Benetton on Friday. The former Argentine 7’s player crossed in the second half in the Italian Pro 14 derby match vs Zebre. Zebre were 17-13 winners. Their win came after they had also led 10-3 at half-time. Tommaso Boni and Jimmy Tuivaiti scored …

Chile’s central-south High Performance Center is ready in Concepción. The center is a combined effort between the Chile Rugby Federation and Sudamérica Rugby. The facilities in Concepción are to be one of four rugby High Performance Centers nationwide. The third largest Chilean urban area will provide the country with an …

Rugby is back in the Americas. The Uruguayo de Clubes starts today. The competition will featured eleven teams and having five matches per round. The start of the Uruguayo de Clubes marks the return of rugby after many months; matches were suspended throughout the Americas in March. Round one of the …

Aaron Mitchell has committed to a fourth campaign with the San Diego Legion. The 24-year-old tighthead prop has followed second row Siaosi Mahoni in signing a one-year extension through the 2021 Major League Rugby season. In his three years with the Legion Mitchell has been patient, with 23 appearances but …

Rugby ATL have snapped up free agent Jonas Petrakopoulos from Rugby United New York. A month shy of his 22nd birthday, the versatile front rower has signed a two-year deal that ties him to the ‘Snake Pit’ through the 2022 Major League Rugby season. Petrakopoulos was a late addition to …

The Dallas Jackals have signed Argentine flanker Conrado Roura for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He arrives after suiting up for Ceibos in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby, where he was restricted to just one replacement appearance before the season was suspended due to COVID-19. Known for his …

John Poland has signed a two-year contract extension with the New England Free Jacks. With his existing contract running through 2021, the new deal ties the 23-year-old scrumhalf to the club through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Arriving from Munster ahead of their inaugural campaign, the Ireland u20 international …

Collegiate All-American flyhalf Mike Dabulas has signed a one-year extension with Old Glory DC through the 2021 Major League Rugby Season. The 23-year-old New Jersey native is the seventh returning player confirmed by the club including five re-signings. In his first year as a professional after graduating from Penn State, …

US Eagles lock Siaosi Mahoni has signed on for another year with the San Diego Legion. The 6’8″ (2.03m) colossus will enter his fourth Major League Rugby season with the club after returning stateside from French Pro D2 club Narbonne in 2018. Mahoni appeared in all five games for San …

Thomas Gallo is set to join Pro 14 side Benetton Treviso. The 2020 Argentine u20’s prop is partly an answer the the Italian side’s injuries. The team has Federico Zani, Matteo Drudi and Derrick Appiah out of action to injuries. As such, both Gallo and Ivan Nemer are medical jokers. …

Chile has named an extended roster for the Valentín Martínez tournament.The 2020 Valentín Martínez competition is scheduled to take place in Uruguay in late November. The 23 selected players selected come from clubs throughout the country. Selectors Edmundo Olfos and Martín Domínguez have included players with prior experience and six …

Benetton have announced the recruitment of Argentine prop Ivan Nemer. The loose head prop joins the Italian side for the 2020-2021 Pro 14 season on a contract which will run until June 30, 2021. Nemer spent there years playing age grade rugby for his country. He was an Argentine u18’s …

Martini Talapusi has signed a one-year extension with Rugby ATL through the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old utility back is the ninth player to re-sign for the club during the off-season and the first since the team’s new logo was unveiled earlier this month. Born in New Zealand …

The New England Free Jacks have signed Tongan international Jack Ram for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. A member of the Ikali Tahi team at Rugby World Cup 2015, the 33-year-old loose forward arrives from Coventry having spent most of the past four years playing in England. Born in …