Americas Players in Challenge Cup – Round 1

As the Southern Hemisphere domestic competitions wind down, the two elite cross-European club competitions are just getting started this weekend. The Challenge Cup is the second tier below the Champions club but still a high level event with teams from the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro 12, and Top 14 all included along with Romania’s top side Timisoara and Enisei STM from Russia. A number of Americas players will be involved across the three-day 10 game schedule for Round 1.

Sergio Parisse started for Stade Français in Friday’s European opener at Harlequins that saw the home side come away victors by 43-21. St. Lucia’s Marland Yarde scored a try for Harlequins.

On Saturday uncapped USA lock Nick Civetta will make his competitive debut for Newcastle Falcons at Ospreys. The 26-year-old had a rough ride in pre-season action but has since received positive reviews for his work ethic and shown good form in the Aviva ‘A’ league. Belisario Agulla will prowl on the Falcons wing and Juan Pablo Socino is among the reserves. Agustín Figuerola is backup scrumhalf for Lyon at Grenoble, and Takudzwa Ngwenya is set to debut for Brive as a replacement against Newport Gwent Dragons.

A pair of US Eagles will meet up at Ashton Gate as Cam Dolan is named on the visiting Cardiff Blues bench while Thretton Palamo starts in the midfield for Bristol. Argentina international Gastón Cortes wears the no3 shirt for the home side.

Chilean lock Pablo Huete will play as a reserve for Bayonne and could find himself opposite Argentine counterpart Mariano Galarza, who has been chosen in the same role for Gloucester. Leandro Cedaro will also come off the bench for La Rochelle against Benetton Treviso.

20-year-old Canadian prop Matt Tierney will make his European debut for Pau as he makes only his second professional start against Bath at the Stade du Hameau. Former Pumas star Santiago Fernández makes his first appearance of the season in the midfield.