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 …

Neither of Rugby World Cups 2027 or 2031 will be in South Africa. The reigning World Champions were strong contenders to bid to host RWC 2027 or 2031, but will not do so for financial reasons notes South African publication Rapport. The Afrikaans language publication reported that the South African government …

Up and Under is usually a weekly segment on Americas Rugby News. It has been on hold since March 16 because of COVID-19. Up and Under makes a return today thanks to the large number of off-field activities during the past week.   UP Sebastián Piñeyrua Sudamérica Rugby President Sebastián …

The English Premiership returned this past weekend after a four-month hiatus necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. All 12 teams were in action in the 14th round of the 2019-20 season that will be completed before the delayed start of the 2020-21 campaign that is now set for a late November …

Nick Civetta has turned down a contract extension with Pro D2 club Vannes in favor of a unique educational opportunity at Oxford University. The US Eagles lock will take up a two-year Masters Degree program in Renewable Energy Systems. His decision was first reported by Ouest France in late May, …

A recent decision from the World Rugby Executive Committee to extend the Regulation 8 amendment regarding residency qualification by one year has not come without criticism. The new five-year requirement was to come into effect on January 1, 2021, but has now been pushed to 2022. That it was made …

Division de Honor club Deportivo Aparejadores Rugby Burgos, known as UBU-Colina Clinic for sponsorship reasons, have signed Chilean Augusto Sarmiento. The Spanish club have signed Sarmiento from rivals Complutense Cisneros for the 2020-2021 season. Sarmiento comes from the traditional Santiago club Prince of Wales Country Club (PWCC).  The 27-year-old is …

Bathco Rugby have signed Felipe Helman from CASI in Buenos Aires. The loose head prop is the second Argentine recruit in a matter of days following the signing of fly half Julián Izaguirre. Helman is a graduate of the Argentine u20’s. He played in the 2015 South American tournament and …

The Dallas Jackals have announced the signing of Scottish age-grade international James Malcolm for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Arriving from London Scottish in the RFU Championship, the 25-year-old represented Scotland at both the 2013 and 2014 World Rugby u20 Championships. Malcolm joined the Glasgow Warriors in 2014 and …

Ciaran Hearn will stick with Old Glory DC for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The Canadian international has committed to the second of his two-year contract announced in December of 2019. Hearn, 34, joined the club after playing in his third World Cup for Canada. His 73 test caps …

Saracens have quietly promoted USA international Kapeli Pifeleti from their senior academy to their professional squad. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is one of three hookers named in the roster for the remainder of the 2019-20 Premiership season alongside British & Irish Lions starter Jamie George and England u20 international Tom Woolstencroft. …

New England Free Jacks second row Jackson Thiebes has extended his stay with the club through the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The 26-year-old will play in his second season as a professional in 2021, having joined the team ahead of their very first exhibition match in October 2018. A …

World Rugby has confirmed the Rugby World Cup selection process until RWC 2031. The announced outlines the procedures for determining the hosts of the men’s 2027 and 2031 in addition to the women’s 2025 and 2029 tournaments. There are to be the following three phases: 1. Dialogue Phase, 2. Candidate …

Rugby United New York have extended versatile forward Rob Irimescu through the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old is the 11th returning player confirmed by the club, and third announcement this week following new prop Zak Taulafo and fullback Ben Foden. Irimescu won Collegiate All-American honors as a hooker …

Psalm Wooching will stay with the San Diego Legion for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. With the potential of a new franchise looming in his native Hawai’i, the 26-year-old flanker will see out at least the second of his existing three-year contract. After winning four caps for the Eagles …

Luke Beauchamp and Matías Freyre will play for the Houston SaberCats in the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The club confirmed the return of the duo today on social media. It’s not immediately clear if this is an extension or continuation of their existing contracts. Now entering his third MLR …

South American Rugby (Sudamérica Rugby) President Sebastián Piñeyrua has slammed World Rugby’s decision to delay changing the residency law. The sport’s global governing body announced the change on Monday, August 10, though it noted that the law change was passed in July. The change is a one-year extension of the previously-approved …

Julián Izaguirre has signed for Spanish side Bathco. The Argentine halfback joins the team ahead of the upcoming División de Honor season. The 21-year-old joins from Club Atlético Estudiantes de Paraná in Entre Ríos. The same club produced Puma Javier Ortega Desio. Izaguirre made his senior debut for Club Atlético …