Changes have been announced in Uruguay, reports Ignacio Chans. Alterations from the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay (URU) concern the format and fixtures of the Campeonato Uruguayo (Uruguayan Championship), which is to get underway on March 11. It is to immediately follow the final round of the Americas Rugby Championship. Among …

Sergio Parisse is to Captain Italy against Wales. The Argentine born and raised player will play in his regular position of No 8. Head Coach Conor O’Shea has named thirteen Italian-based players in the starting lineup. In playing Parisse will earn his 122 test cap. It is three more than the …

Americas players have long been forced to balance their professional club careers with international availability, with test rugby often coming second in terms of priority, at least outside of the World Cup. Things have been further complicated with the UAR’s new policy of excluding European-based professionals from Pumas selection. There …

Canada’s thirst for more high level fixtures was quenched in 2016 with the addition of the Americas Rugby Championship proving a major step in the development of top amateur talent. While not quite top flight competition, the games gave the best of Canada’s domestic players a chance to test themselves …

Our last weekend focused on domestic rugby until the end of March was an interesting one. With no Premiership or Pro 12 we were given the two French divisions and the Anglo-Welsh cup to pine over, with no players coming from the Championship. Thankfully there were plenty of decent performances …

An early second half try from Joe Taufete’e put Worcester in a strong position against the Harlequins. The Eagle crossed for the third and final try for Worcester in what was an Anglo-Welsh Cup match this past Saturday. The try would ultimately not be sufficient for the Worcester Warriors to go …

Like Brazil, the Chileans have benefited greatly from the re-development of the Americas Rugby Championship. Their 2016 total of 11 tests is almost three times as many as the four they played in 2015, and the first time they’ve had more than seven in a calendar year since 2005. While …

The Breakthrough Player of the Year is somewhat of a loosely defined category. It doesn’t necessitate that a player has achieved international stardom, nor does it require a player to necessarily have achieved international recognition at all. Any player who has demonstrated a significant rise in their standards over the …

The introduction of the Americas Rugby Championship has given Brazil a major boost not just in terms of competition standards but perhaps more importantly in sheer volume of test matches. Previously they would go no higher than six tests in a calendar year – in 2016 they had a record …

Olympic Bronze medalist Jen Kish returns to the Canadian lineup for the first time since leading the team in the historic event in Brazil as Canada prepare to resume the HSBC Sevens Series in Sydney this coming weekend. Fellow Olympian Ghislaine Landry will retain the captaincy, however, with Kish instead …

The Women’s Eagles will have an unusual sight in their lineup for the Sydney 7s this coming weekend. An injury to Bulou Mataitoga has seen World Cup prop Hope Rogers called into the group of 12 for the second stop on the HSBC Sevens Series. In a game typically reserved …

Chile have announced a list of 27 players to travel to Sao Paulo for the opening match of the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship on Friday. In doing so they have also revealed their probable starting lineup for the game with a couple surprises. Veteran COBS flyhalf Francisco Cruz looks set …

A double for the Americas took place this weekend as a player from either team scored in Bayonne vs Brive. Martín Bustos Moyano and Taku Ngwenya both scored in the round 17 match of the French league. The former Puma scored in the 71st minute while the Eagle did so on …

Argentina rugby mourns the loss of Bernardo Miguens. The former CUBA and Puma fullback suffered an accident while on vacation in Pinamar and was unable to respond to treatment. He passed away while being transported to Buenos Aires. He was 58. The fourth child of a rugby family, his brothers …

Six players have today signed on with the UAR until 2019. All six are regarded as elite Argentine players and on course to play at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. In signing all are under the control of the Argentine union and free to play at all times for all …

Utility back Segundo Tuculet has joined the Argentina XV roster to face Canada. The younger brother of leading fullback, Joaquín Tuculet, has been called-up to replace Franco Cuaranta. The Argentina X is departing today for Canada. The Argentine ‘A’ side will play away against Canada on Saturday in an opening …

The Americas will be sandwiched together in one pool as the draw for the Sydney 7s has been made. Canada will headline Pool D after their excellent 4th place finish in Wellington, with Argentina, the USA, and Russia completing the pool. Ranked 12th, Canada trail 9th-ranked Argentina by only four …

Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. UP Canada 7s An outstanding day one from Canada at the Wellington 7s saw them producing their best opening-day effort at an HSBC …

Canadian heavyweight Adam Zaruba has been selected to the official HSBC Dream Team for the Wellington 7s. The 120kg (265lbs) giant enjoyed his finest tournament to date, the 19th in his career since making his debut in October 2014. A superb individual performance against Scotland in the opening match put …

South Africa proved to be well ahead of the pack in Wellington as they cruised to a 26-5 win over Fiji in the Cup Final early Sunday morning. It was the second time the two had met in the tournament, with the Fijians falling 31-12 in the pool stages on …