Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
What a year it was for rugby across the Americas in 2018. Historic victories, individual records, and some truly monumental developments that could shape the regions for years to come. Below we take a chronological look back at the incredible year that was.
January 7 – Chile defeat South Africa at the Punta del Este 7s, and more than 5,000 show up at Constellation Field to watch the Houston SaberCats play the Seattle Saracens in the first Major League Rugby preseason match of 2018.
January 25 – In the first of two such steps up for Pablo Matera, the Argentine flanker is named captain of Los Jaguares by new coach Mario Ledesma.
January 29 – Santiago Cordero signs for Exeter Chiefs. In joining the Premiership champions he stepped away from Argentina contention but has since made a monumental impact as one of the best attacking wingers in Europe.
January 31 – Bolivia Rugby is officially recognized by the National Olympic Committee. It paves the way for their subsequent inclusion as associate members of Sudamérica Rugby in May.
February 3 – Uruguay defeat Canada in Montevideo to claim their spot as Americas 2 representatives at Rugby World Cup 2019. It came after they had stunned the North Americans just a week earlier on their home turf in Vancouver. The victory would not only define Uruguay’s year but also that of Canada, who would live in the shadow of that defeat until their own victory in November.
February 13 – Before a ball had even been kicked in the inaugural season, Rugby United New York are officially welcomed as full members of Major League Rugby to begin play in the 2020 season.
February 17 – The Jaguares open their 2018 Super Rugby season against the Stormers, losing 28-20 in Cape Town. It would be a poor start but eventually the team would turn things around under coach Ledesma.
February 26 – Confirmation that a new South American professional competition is in advanced discussions. The original plan targets a 2019 start for the Liga Sudamericana but those have since been pushed to 2020. Will the ambitious project reach its goal?
March 3 – The USA defeat Uruguay to complete an historic Grand Slam as they claim their second consecutive Americas Rugby Championship title. Along the way they become the first team to defeat the Argentina XV in ARC competition.
March 4 – Capping what some dubbed the ‘greatest weekend in American rugby history’, the Eagles claim victory at the Las Vegas Sevens. It’s the first time they have ever won an HSBC Sevens Series stop on their home soil.
March 15 – DTH van der Merwe leaves Newcastle Falcons after less than a season with the Premiership club and returns to Glasgow Warriors. This proves a very successful move for the Canadian winger while the Falcons have sputtered since.
March 17 – Jessica Wooden becomes the first USA international to suit up for the Women’s Barbarians in just the second-ever match for the invitational side. She scores a try in the 37-0 win over the British Army at Aldershot.
March 18 – Belgium upset Spain in Brussels in the most controversial international result of the year. The scenes after the match are not pretty but this was just the beginning of what was a monumental scandal with wide-reaching implications.
March 22 – Tyler Ardron is handed his first Super Rugby start with the Chiefs against the Sunwolves. He would enjoy an impressive season playing largely in the second row for the Hamilton-based franchise.
March 23 – Tahiti are punished severely for fielding ineligible players in the World Cup qualifiers. This precedent would have implications later on… and Argentina reconsider their policy on ignoring their European professionals for selection to Los Pumas.
March 29 – Sebastian Pineyrua completes his move from the URU and becomes the new President of Sudamérica Rugby. Among his most important tasks is to help usher in the new South American profession competition.
April 3 – Confirmation comes that Juan Martín Hernández, one of the greatest players of his generation, is to retire. Plaudits shower in from across the rugby world.
April 14 – The annual Rugby Americas North Championship opens with the Dominican Republic earning a win over Curaçao.
April 18 – Another first in South America sees 15 Uruguayan players handed full-time training contracts. The URU confirms intentions to field a fully professional Teros team at RWC 2019.
April 22 – The historic day finally arrives. Major League Rugby officially kicks of its inaugural season as the NOLA Gold upset the SaberCats in Houston. Later that day the first match on CBS Sports Network is aired as the Glendale Raptors defeat Austin Elite.
April 25 – After announcing that he would be stepping down as CEO of USA Rugby, Dan Payne confirms that he is in fact assuming a new position as CEO of Rugby Americas. The strategic shift sees World Rugby taking a greater presence in one of the world’s most desired markets.
May 3 – Georgian sources claim that Romania, Spain, and Belgium will all be effectively disqualified from the World Cup for fielding ineligible players in the Rugby Europe competition. Two weeks later World Rugby confirms exactly that.
May 12 – Jamaica defeat Barbados to win the RAN Cup, the second division of the Rugby Americas North competition. In doing so the Crocs earn promotion to the Championship in 2019. On the same day Brazil defeat the Argentina XV in Buenos Aires, the first time the Tupis have ever beaten a senior Argentine representative side.
May 15 – Major League Rugby announces that they have approved a franchise in Washington DC. In early November it’s confirmed that the team will begin regular season play in 2020.
May 19 – Another historic day for Brazil as they finish the inaugural Sudamericano 6 Naciones undefeated with a win over Colombia in São Paulo. The victory seals a first ever South American title for the Tupis.
May 27 – Another all-time great, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, ends his illustrious career by playing for the Barbarians in their win over England at Twickenham. He would kick the final conversion in the match to bring on the final whistle for the last time.
June 10 – Los Teros defeat the Argentina XV to clinch their second consecutive Nations Cup title.
June 16 – The inevitable occurs – Daniel Hourcade resigns as Head Coach of Los Pumas after another humiliating defeat against Wales.
June 17 – Arguably the biggest moment in USA Rugby history comes in Houston as the Eagles upset Scotland. On the same day Trinidad & Tobago claimed a stunning win over the USA South Panthers, overcoming great uncertainty over their future due to a lack of government support.
June 29 – The Ontario Arrows confirm they are set to formally apply for a spot in the 2019 Major League Rugby season. A little over two weeks later they are granted franchise rights, and Canada are on the verge of having their first ever professional rugby union team.
July 8 – Major League Rugby crowns its first champion. The Seattle Seawolves upset the Glendale Raptors in San Diego to lift the monstrous MLR Shield. Meanwhile the USA South Panthers defeat the Cayman Islands in Atlanta to claim the 2018 RAN Championship.
July 14 – Mexico defeat Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and the USA South in succession to claim the RAN Men’s under-19 title.
July 23 – New Zealand win both the Men’s and Women’s titles at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco. Chile take the Bowl in the Men’s draw. World Rugby declares the event an overwhelming success.
August 1 – Mario Ledesma is officially unveiled as the new Head Coach of Los Pumas. A week later Gonzalo Quesada is confirmed as his successor to take over the Jaguares.
August 2 – Colombia win gold in both the Men’s and Women’s brackets of the CAC Games in Barranquilla.
August 3 – Brazil’s successful year continues with an impressive win over the Georgia XV in Tbilisi during the Summer Cup.
August 10 – Canadian fans are dealt another blow with the confirmation that star winger Jeff Hassler is stepping away from rugby indefinitely to pursue other interests.
August 14 – Paraguay name former Jaguares coach Raúl Perez as Head Coach of their Senior Men’s team. His first task will be to guide them in the inaugural Americas Rugby Challenge.
August 19 – England defeat Canada in Halifax to claim the Women’s u20 Tri-Nations Cup. The tournament sees numerous players for Canada, England, and the USA earn spots on senior tours in November.
August 24 – Belize names their first ever international team that will compete against Guatemala in Rugby Sevens.
August 25 – Panama defeat El Salvador to win the 2018 Centroamericano, the third division of the Sudamerica competition.
August 26 – The Ontario Blues reclaim the MacTier Cup as champions of the Canadian Rugby Championship with a win over the Atlantic Rock. With the Arrows set to join MLR and support waning for the CRC, it could be a while before the Cup is lifted again.
August 31 – Pablo Lemoine is named as Head Coach of Chile. Earlier in the year the Uruguayan had taken charge of Germany during the Rugby Europe Championship.
September 1 – Colombia defeat Paraguay to claim the inaugural Americas Rugby Challenge, also known as the ARC ‘B’. It is also the first ever win for the Tucanes over Paraguay after 14 years of trying.
September 8 – Nicolás Sánchez becomes Argentina’s all-time points scoring leader, passing Felipe Contepomi in the match against New Zealand.
September 21 – Major League Rugby confirms two new teams for the 2020 season. Boston will play under the New England banner and Atlanta will also join for the third season of the new professional league.
September 23 – Jamaica and Mexico win the Men’s and Women’s RAN Sevens respectively to earn qualification for the 2019 Pan-Am Games.
September 25 – Americas Rugby News receives word that the Ontario Arrows have been approved by Major League Rugby to join the competition for the 2019 season. The formal announcement from the league doesn’t come until early November.
October 7 – Peru shut out Guatemala in Antigua to claim the Sudamericano 4 Naciones. The tournament was actually contested by only three teams as Venezuela were forced to withdraw after having their visas denied.
October 15 – Argentina wins Gold in the Men’s draw and Canada takes Bronze in the Women’s competition at the Youth Olympic Sevens.
October 21 – Ghislaine Landry becomes the first player in the history of the Women’s Sevens Series to score 1,000 career points, reaching the mark at the Glendale Sevens. Canada would finish in third place at the event with the USA losing the Cup Final to New Zealand.
October 22 – Pablo Matera replaces Agustín Creevy as captain of Los Pumas. The announcement comes just a couple weeks after Creevy had surpassed Lisandro Arbizu as Argentina’s most-capped captain of all-time.
October 27 – Evan Olmstead wins man-of-the-match honors in a thrilling Mitre 10 Cup final that sees Auckland defeat Canterbury in extra time. Olmstead is then forced to settle for a spot in the Blues extended squad but Super Rugby maybe yet be on the cards for the Canadian lock.
November 3 – The Rugby Weekend in Chicago sees the USA Women hammered by New Zealand, the Men’s Eagles thrashed by the Māori, and Italy crushed by Ireland. The overall reception is lukewarm. On the same day Trébol claim the Uruguayan club championship for the first time.
November 7 – In perhaps the biggest news of the year, Americas Rugby News launches their highly anticipated podcast. Look for Episode 6 to arrive mid-January.
November 10 – The USA earns their first ever win over Samoa thanks to a last-gasp penalty goal from Will Hooley. In Brazil, the Tupis earn respect for a spirited performance against the Māori in a match broadcast worldwide on Twitter.
November 11 – Canada begins their Repechage campaign with a big win over Kenya. In the other match Germany takes a pivotal victory over Hong Kong.
November 14 – The 2021 Women’s World Cup is awarded to New Zealand. The USA Selects celebrate with a memorable win over England Academy at Newbury.
November 23 – Canada breathes a collective sigh of relief as the Men’s Team officially qualifies for Rugby World Cup 2019. The team completes the Repechage victory with a win over Hong Kong in Marseille.
November 26 – Perry Baker is named Men’s Sevens Player of the Year for a second time at the World Rugby Awards in Monte Carlo.
December 1 – The Dubai Sevens concludes with the Men’s Eagles reaching the Cup Final for the first time. Canada takes second place in the women’s competition. Meanwhile Andrés Zafra becomes the first Colombian player to score a try in the Top 14, and New York edges New England in an historic first-ever professional contest in Boston.
December 4 – A new Jaguares logo is unveiled along with the new uniforms for the 2019 Super Rugby season. The first training squad under new coach Gonzalo Quesada is named in late December.
December 9 – The USA reach the top of the World Sevens Series table for the first time as they finish second in Cape Town. Argentina settle for the Challenge Trophy while Canadian pair Nathan Hirayama and Justin Douglas reach historic scoring marks.
December 17 – Canada and the USA are officially confirmed to be part of the Pacific Nations Cup in 2019, ending a three year hiatus.
December 24 – Chilean rugby announces that the Cóndores will have new indoor training facilities in 2019. Just three days later Paraguay launches their own high performance program in Asunción.
