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 Vancouver Sevens A record attendance of 77,096 was recorded across the two days of the Vancouver Sevens at BC Place this …

Nathan Hirayama achieved a significant points milestone over the weekend. His tournament-leading 53-point haul in Vancouver vaults him into 5th place on the all-time HSBC Sevens Series scoring list. On Saturday he overtook legendary Pacific duo Waisale Serevi and Uale Mai, and his try against France on Sunday took him …

Perry Baker has been named to the official HSBC Dream Team for the Vancouver Sevens. The Eagles flyer continued his remarkable form on the circuit, scoring seven tries at the tournament and leading the USA to a fourth-place overall finish. Baker’s 32 tries on the season are now one ahead …

Fiji left no doubt as to who was the top team at the Vancouver Sevens after a thoroughly convincing 31-12 win over Kenya in the Cup Final. It closed a perfect tournament for the irrepressible Fijians who coasted past Argentina in the Quarter Finals and edged HSBC Sevens Series leaders …

Rugby Canada have confirmed their June 9 match against Scotland will be played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. It will be the first stop of cross-Americas tour for Scotland, who will then head south to play the Eagles in Houston and finally Argentina at a location to be determined. It …

Puma Facundo Isa impressed as Toulon trounced Agen this weekend. Playing at home, Toulon secured a dominant 54-5 victory. It was by 8 tries to 1 with Isa scoring two of them. Facundo Isa partnered former Pumas captain Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe in the back-row. Playing as the flankers both …

Los Jaguares hosted and defeated the Waratahs on Saturday. The win was the first of 2018 for the Argentine Super Rugby franchise. It follows three losses in the initial rounds of the Super Rugby 2018 season. The Argentine side had a dream start, scoring a try in the opening minute. …

Spain are now just 80 minutes away from qualifying for RWC 2019. Los Leones defeated Germany today in a RWC qualifying match. The 84-10 victory was Spain’s largest since 1996 and has sees them on the verge of qualifying for a second Rugby World Cup. Twenty Year Wait Spain’s prior …

It didn’t take long for the Glendale Raptors to find their groove as they cruised to a 38-14 win over the New Orleans Gold at Infinity Park on Saturday. The match made a bit of history as the first between two Major League Rugby teams to be live streamed. Some …

A last-gasp win over Canada was just enough to see the USA through to the Cup Quarter Finals at the HSBC Sevens Series event in Vancouver on Saturday. John Moonlight tied the game after two Perry Baker scores had put the Eagles in front. With time up the Eagles won …

Los Jaguares claimed their opening Super Rugby win of 2018, downing the Waratahs 38-28 this evening. The final score was a ten point win though the Argentine team had been 33-7 ahead at half time. So impressive were Los Jaguares in the opening half that they had a 26-0 lead …

Rugby Canada held its annual Award Dinner at the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver on Friday evening. A total of 13 awards were handed out with seven inducted into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame. The biggest winner of the evening was retiring Women’s XVs captain …

Romania hammered Belgium in a RWC 2019 Qualifier earlier today in Buzau. The 62-12 victory included eight tries and, crucially, sees Romania’s path towards a place in Japan 2019 remaining open. The match was Romania’s final fixture in the ongoing Rugby Europe section of RWC 2019 qualifiers. The prize for the …

The Seattle Seawolves have added punch to their Major League Rugby backline in the form of Canadian international Mozac Samson. The 32-year-old notably played a vital role in the victorious 2015 Canadian Rugby Championship campaign with the Prairie Wolf Pack. After leading the competition in scoring he was considered unlucky …

Infinity Park will get its first taste of Major League Rugby on Saturday as the Glendale Raptors host the New Orleans Gold in a tasty preseason encounter. It’s the third match for the gold in 2018 after previous warm-up encounters against the Capital Selects and Houston SaberCats. For the Raptors …

The final rosters for the Vancouver Sevens have been declared. Another weekend featuring some of the world’s biggest names looms though there are a few stars who did not survive Las Vegas. New Zealand have suffered a blow with skipper Tim Mikkelson and Vilimoni Koroi ruled out, but fortunately they …

Santiago Cordero is to start the Anglo-Welsh Cup Semi Final, wearing the colors of the Exeter Chiefs on Sunday. The reigning Aviva Premiership champions play host to the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday in what is the second Semi Final. The winner of the Exeter vs Newcastle match will play either …

Sergio Parisse will lead Italy vs Wales this weekend, earning his 133rd cap in the process. The Argentine born-and-raised no 8 is a record holder already and quickly approaching even more milestones. Italy’s match this weekend is a rare Sunday outing in Cardiff. The Azzurri face the Welsh at the …

The business end of the European season is rapidly approaching. This weekend sees Week 20 of the Top 14 taking place in France. It is a vital weekend for all involved as places in the playoffs are proving to be highly competitive. The fight to avoid relegation is also very …

DTH van der Merwe is set to make a surprise return to Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season. The Canadian winger joined Aviva Premiership club Newcastle Falcons from Scarlets last summer but with little playing time will seek more success with the team he spent six seasons with …