Round four of the European Challenge Cup is typically one that starts to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Unfortunately it also tends to be round that clubs already down the pecking order roll out weakened lineups which can end up with some lopsided results. Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Connacht …
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British & Irish Cup – Round 4 Preview
The fourth round of the British & Irish Cup coincides with the bigger European competitions with the Greene King IPA Championship sides facing either Guinness Pro 14 reserve teams or shuffled versions of their regular Championship rivals. It’s a quiet week as far as the Americas are concerned with only …
Read More »Pro D2 – Week 16 Preview
The French Pro D2 stepped into the second half of the season on Thursday with an incredible 15 games of the regular season already on the books. Montauban remain slightly ahead but there are now three clubs within two points after Perpignan’s win at Bayonne on Thursday evening. It wasn’t …
Read More »Major League Rugby posts jersey tease
On Thursday a series of posts on Major League Rugby’s social media channels teased the imminent reveal of the team kits for the inaugural 2018 season. Closeup shots of the Seattle Seawolves, Austin Elite, and San Diego Legion jerseys were posted followed by a group promotional shot that shows a …
Read More »Jackson Kaka confirmed for Utah Warriors
Jackson Kaka is now officially a member of the Utah Warriors. The Major League Rugby franchise confirmed on Wednesday that the 25-year-old loose forward would be joining the team for the 2018 season. It’s a move that will not invite much surprise given Kaka’s association both with BYU and Rugby …
Read More »Team of the Week
One of the more enjoyable teams to choose this year came after a fine week for Americas players in Europe. Nearly all of them made positive contributions and a few came away with Man of the Match or Dream Team selections. Players from the European competitions, the Pro D2, Spain’s …
Read More »Brazil Rugby wins national sports award
The Brazilian Rugby Confederation (CBRu) has won the prestigious Sou do Esporte Award for a third consecutive year. More than 30 national Olympic sporting bodies are considered for the award, which is given by the independent Sou de Sports group to the management team that displays excellent in transparency, equity, …
Read More »Capó Ortega set to re-sign with Castres
Rodrigo Capó Ortega is set to continue his professional career for at least one more season. Castres Olympique manager Christophe Urios is determined to retain his club captain with multiple French sources expecting Capó Ortega, who celebrated his 37th birthday last week, to extend his deal in the coming days. …
Read More »Bjarke Ingels Group reveals Stadium plans for Austin
Architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has revealed plans for an impressive new sports and entertainment complex in Austin, Texas. According to BIG, the ‘East Austin District’ will incorporate 1.3 million square feet of green space, retail stores, and entertainment venues under an enormous solar array with the intention of …
Read More »Referees confirmed for Americas 2 Qualifiers
World Rugby has confirmed the referees for the Americas 2 Rugby World Cup Qualifying series between Canada and Uruguay. Ireland’s Andrew Brace will take charge of the first match, to take place on January 27 at Vancouver’s BC Place. The second, at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo on February 3, …
Read More »Best of the Rest
It’s another edition of some of our choice picks from elsewhere in the cyber-world. Most of the articles touch on topics related to the Americas but not all. In this installment there are pieces on Major League Rugby, contract negotiations, player development, mental illness, life as a professional, Argentina’s woes, …
Read More »Canada draws USA for Sydney Sevens
Canada performed well enough at the Cape Town Sevens to enter Sydney as the top seeds in their pool but it’s fair to say the draw has not been kind. Joining them in arguably the toughest bracket of the tournament, Pool D, are North American rivals USA, 6th-ranked Australia, and …
Read More »MacGinty kicks Sale Sharks past Cardiff Blues
AJ MacGinty kicked 14 points as Sale Sharks shut out Cardiff Blues 24-0 at AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday. The USA flyhalf was in fine form with the boot, landing four penalty goals and one conversion despite the adverse weather conditions. His final conversion attempt drifted just wide of the …
Read More »Utah Warriors sign football standout Pio Vatuvei
The Utah Warriors have signed former Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman Pio Vatuvei for the 2018 Major League Rugby season. A native of Hayward, California, the 23-year-old played football for the Washington Huskies before transferring to Louisville, where he also played rugby in 2016. Vatuvei was given a tryout with the …
Read More »Hassler stars in Ospreys win over Northampton
Jeff Hassler played a starring role as Ospreys took a handsome 43-32 result away from Northampton Saints in Champions Cup action on Saturday. Saints conceded six tries at Franklin’s Gardens, with the Canadian winger scoring two himself and creating another with a long breakout from his own half. The tries …
Read More »Tucumán win Seven de la República, Uruguay earn promotion
Tucumán have been crowned champions of the prestigious Seven de la República in Paraná. The Argentine province defeated Córdoba 21-12 in the Gold Cup Final after cruising past Buenos Aires in the Semi Finals. Consolation victories went to Santa Fe who edged Entre Ríos in the Silver Cup Final, and …
Read More »Capital Selects name squad to play NOLA Gold
Fresh off their 52-28 victory over the USA South Panthers a week ago, the Capital Selects have named a 23-man touring squad for their match against the New Orleans Gold of Major League Rugby on January 20. Ten different clubs from the mid-Atlantic region are represented. It’s the first of …
Read More »Three Americas players in Cape Town Dream Team
After sending two teams to the Semi Finals the Americas have been rewarded with three selections to the official HSBC Dream Team for the Cape Town Sevens. Canadian duo Mike Fuailefau and Justin Douglas are named along with Argentina’s Rodrigo Etchart. Fuailefau scored a try in the opener against Samoa …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol 3: Iss 8): 2017 Crowds Boost RWC in Argentina
December is often a month of reflection for many. This holds true for Argentine rugby now more so than ever. It is a time in which the domestic professional and amateur players are into the off-season. Only a small group remain active – Los Pumas 7’s. The completion of the …
Read More »Argentina take Silver, Canada finish 4th in Cape Town
A good weekend for Americas teams at the Cape Town Sevens concluded with Argentina facing New Zealand in the Cup Final. Both teams had tasted defeat earlier in the competition and it was New Zealand who emerged the stronger of the two in the end, taking a dominant 38-14 result …
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