Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The best players from the Americas are all on World Cup duty, but there is still a sizeable group of overseas professionals back in the swing of things for the new club season. Here’s a quick look at those who were in action this past weekend.
GUINNESS PRO 12
A couple of former Pumas front rowers were in action for Zebre, who were blown away by the Cardiff Blues by a score of 61-13. Bruno Postiglioni started in the no1 jersey, while Emiliano Coria came on as a replacement at tighthead prop.
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Aviva Premiership is on hiatus until the pool stages of the World Cup are done, but the second division RFU Championship is underway. Canadian international Aaron Flagg made his debut for Moseley, lining up at blindside flank in a 23-19 win over London Scottish. He also earned his first yellow card, albeit for team infringements in the 48th minute.
Two more Canadian forwards were on duty for Doncaster, who were pipped 35-33 by London Welsh. Jon Phelan started in the second row, with Tyler Hotson coming on as a substitute.
Bristol got off to a rough start against Bedford, losing 29-23. Argentina’s Gastón Cortes came on as a reserve for Andy Robinson’s side, while Montreal native Justin Blanchet played a key role in the win wearing the no6 shirt for the Blues.
Martín García Veiga and Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba both came on as front row reserves in Jersey’s 39-22 loss to Yorkshire Carnegie.
TOP 14
Top Pumas flyhalf prospect Patricio Fernández played again from the bench and scored for the second time in three league matches with a late conversion for Clermont, coming on as a replacement as they toppled Oyonnax by a score of 41-24.
Another Fernández – Santiago – started at no10 for Section Paloise, kicking one penalty in their sluggish 41-15 loss to Grenoble. Canada’s Cameron Pierce was in the Pau second row.
The third Argentine flyhalf on duty in the Top 14 was Bautista Güemes, who was a reserve for Agen in their promising 30-18 win over Racing 92.
Benjamín Urdapilleta of Castres was the fourth, though he sadly succumbed to a hamstring injury during the 37-20 loss to Toulouse. Uruguay’s Rodrigo Capó Ortega was on the bench for Castres, while former Pumas star Patricio Albacete was in the Toulouse second row.
Francisco Gomez Kodela remains a reserve option for the Pumas as he started at tighthead for Bordeaux in their close 24-22 defeat to Montpellier, and Tomás Vallejos wore the no5 jersey for Stade Français as they came up short to Toulon by 20 points to 13.
PRO D2
Scrumhalf Agustín Figuerola was a reserve for Lyon in their 28-23 win over Béziers; Javier Rojas started at no12 for Albi, who beat Biarritz 20-9; and loosehead prop Carlos Muzzio was in action for Mont-de-Marsan, losing to Perpignan 14-9.
Nahuel Lobo lined up at no1 for his new club Carcassonne, who were routed by reserve prop Ariel Castellina’s Colomiers side 31-9.
Three Pumas played a part for Tarbes in the 28-10 over Aix-en-Provence. Starting halfbacks Nicolás Vergallo and Sebastián Poet impressed, with the latter contributing 18 points including one try. Front rower Agustín Costa Repetto was a reserve.
Martín Chiappesoni made his debut for Dax at no8 as they defeated Bayonne 31-28. Ignacio Mieres was among the Dax reserves. Another Pumas export, Benjamín Macome, was among the Bayonne replacements, while Chile’s Pablo Huete started at lock.
FÉDÉRALE 1
A brief glance down the ranks reveals several more Americas players in the third division of French rugby.
Towering Argentine second row Agustín Smidth started at lock for Bobigny; his countryman Juan José Acosta was at prop for Limoges; and Eagles centre Roland Suniula was a reserve for Chalon.
Esteban Noriega – son of former Pumas and Wallabies prop Pato – made his Anglet debut in the no3 shirt, while newly signed Jockey Rosario exile Felipe Telleria came on as a replacement at lock.
Luciano Leibson made his debut for Massy Essonne at no3, with another Argentina-born prop – Spanish international Fernando López – among the replacements. Former Azzurri test player Luciano Orquera, born in Córdoba, started at flyhalf. On the other side of the pitch, former San Isidro Club standout Joaquín Dominguez ran out in the no13 shirt after moving to Cognac from Edinburgh in the off-season.
Twice-capped Pumas prop Ramiro Pacheco lined up at tighthead prop for Vannes opposite Saint-Médard, who included veteran centre/flanker Alejandro Krancz of Buenos Aires on the bench. A familiar face for Canadian fans popped up in the second row for SMRC, two-time World Cup squad member Josh Jackson, just a few weeks short of his 35th birthday.
