News Archives

Andrés Vilaseca Trades MLR for SLAR

Uruguay’s Andrés Vilaseca is trading Major League Rugby (MLR) for the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) in 2020. The player has departed Austin and will continue his playing career for Peñarol, Uruguay’s first professional rugby team, confirms Ignacio Chans. The 28-year-old Vilaseca is among Uruguay’s most established players. With …

Read More »

Austin Herd hire Brent Semmons as Head Coach

The veil on Austin’s new Head Coach for the 2020 Major League Rugby season has been lifted. Brent Semmons will lead the re-branded Herd, joining the team from New Zealand where he has been a Coaching Manager with the Auckland’s International Rugby Academy. He replaces Alain Hyardet, who left the …

Read More »

Pieretto Wins on English Premiership Debut

Argentine tight head prop, Enrique Pieretto had a winning start to his career playing in the English Premiership. He made his debut against the most successful team in English Premiership history, the Leicester Tigers. Exeter were the visitors and came away with a 31-22 victory. In the match Pieretto was …

Read More »

Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.   UP Chile and Uruguay host Sevens Challenge Series Chile, and Uruguay are to host the new World Rugby Sevens Challenge Series. The …

Read More »

Georgia XV squad named for Argentina tour

A 35-man extended Georgia XV training squad has been named to prepare for a two-match tour of Argentina next month. Five players will be trimmed from the final selection of 30 that will play against the Jaguares in Mar del Plata on January 17 and Buenos Aires on January 24. …

Read More »

Roman Salanoa makes Pro 14 debut for Leinster

Former Junior All-American prop Roman Salanoa has reached a career milestone in winning his first senior Leinster cap. The 22-year-old from Hawai’i was a 56th-minute replacement in the win over Ulster on Friday. He was a late addition to the match day squad after Jack Aungier pulled out with illness. …

Read More »

Austin confirms five Outside Back returnees

Five outside backs will be continuing their stays in Austin for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Accompanying the club’s transition from Elite to Herd are Sione Fangaiuiha, Peni Tagive, Reece Czarnecki, Alex Faison-Donahoe, and Zinzan Elan-Puttick. Fangaiuiha enters his third season with the team after signing on ahead of …

Read More »

Heartbreaking Rugby Moments

The winning side in a rugby match takes the glory though in rugby there are also the heartbreaking moments. The moments live in the memory with many often seeming like they happened yesterday. Below are a sample of five very hard results for teams from the Americas.   1 – …

Read More »

RUNY signs Super Rugby veteran Kara Pryor

Rugby United New York have signed veteran Super Rugby flanker Kara Pryor for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old arrives on the back of six New Zealand provincial campaigns, four seasons of Super Rugby, and three appearances for the Māori All Blacks. Pryor began his professional career with …

Read More »

San Diego signs Canadian back Josh Thiel

The San Diego Legion have signed Canadian international Josh Thiel for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Most recently part of the Pacific Pride national development program, the Abbotsford product adds further depth to a backs division already bursting in talent. Thiel comes from strong rugby roots. His father Jon …

Read More »

Pieretto Set for English Premiership Debut

Enrique Pieretto is set for his English Premiership debut. He has been named on the bench for the Exeter Chiefs who take-on the Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Pieretto will be up against two countrymen with Tomás Lavanini starting for the Tigers and Facundo Gigena named on the bench. All three …

Read More »

Peñarol Sign Genco and Pueyrredón from Argentina

Peñarol have added to their playing roster by recruiting two players from Argentina, reports Ignacio Chans. The Uruguayan side for the new Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) has signed Alfredo Pueyrredón, and Mauro Genco. Both Pueyrredón and Genco played in Montevideo against Uruguay in August, doing so for the …

Read More »

Duane Aholelei and Rory van Vugt to join ATL

Rugby ATL’s recruitment drive looks to be complete as two more professionals will join the expansion side for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Tonga ‘A’ prop Duane Aholelei and outside back Rory van Vugt are set to arrive in Georgia early in the new year. Aholelei has most recently …

Read More »

Four more re-sign for Rugby United New York

Rugby United New York have confirmed the signatures of four more returning players for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. US Eagles front rowers Dylan Fawsitt and Paddy Ryan are joined by openside flanker James Denise and midfielder Quentin Pradère. Irish-born Fawsitt capped an excellent 2019 with selection to his …

Read More »

Free Jacks sign Samoa prop Donald Brighouse

The New England Free Jacks have secured Samoa prop Donald Brighouse on a two-year contract through the end of the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He represented New Zealand at the 2013 World Junior Championship and was most recently first choice tighthead for Taranaki Bulls in the 2019 Mitre 10 …

Read More »

Nicolás Freitas Joins Peñarol

Nicolás Freitas will play for Peñarol in the inaugural Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. The Uruguayan winger joins as a vital Teros back, and a player who was involved with Los Jaguares in the 2017 Super Rugby season. The 26-year-old is firmly established as Uruguay’s starting left winger. …

Read More »

Eight More Players Join Los Ceibos

Eight more players have joined Los Ceibos reports Lisandro Olearo for El Ciudadano. The newly contracted players include names from Los Pumitas, Los Jaguares XV, and the Argentina XV and take the number of players at Los Ceibos up to 23. The new players include GER fly half / center …

Read More »