Italy

Argentina will compete in a three match European tour in November. The final match has been confirmed for November 21; Los Pumas will take-on Ireland in Dublin. The match is added to the previously confirmed matches against France and Italy. The tour will be Argentina’s first in November since 2018. …

The Jaguares XV exodus continues. Teo Castiglioni is departing Argentina to join Valorugby Emilia in Italy. The move is a one-year-deal. It will see him playing in the Italian Top 10 and potentially forming an Argentina 9-10 combination with fellow SLAR recruit Gonzalo García. Castiglioni went through the Argentine development …

Santiago Portillo is on his way to Italy. The Argentina XV forward is joining Lyons Piacenza from Selknam. He does so after having been a regular for the Chilean team in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). Portillo had a strong season in helping Selknam to the Semi Finals. …

Benetton are Rainbow Cup Champions. The Italians ran rampant against the Bulls, claiming a 35-8 victory. The win sees history made for Italian professional rugby. It is a first trophy in the cabinet for the Central Europeans. The final was played in front of 1,250 fans in Treviso, Italy. It …

Máximo Ledesma will continue his professional career in Italy. The Argentine fly half will join Rugby Lyons Piacenza for the 2021-2022 season, doing so from Paraguay’s Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) entrant the Olímpia Lions. Ledesma moves to Europe following two seasons of SLAR for the Paraguayan side. He …

Kieran Crowley has been named as the new Head Coach of Italy. He will replace Franco Smith in the role on July 01. Smith will take up a new position as Italy’s High Performance Director. Crowley is a former All Black. His pathway to becoming Head Coach of a Tier …

Benetton Rugby have announced contract extensions for midfield pair Luca Morisi and Juan Ignacio Brex. The two Italy internationals will each stay with the Guinness Pro Championship club through at least the 2022-2023 season. Brex is of interest to Americas fans. The 28-year-old is originally from the San Cirano club …

Argentina has a confirmed tour to Wales in July. Los Pumas will play two test matches against the 2021 Six Nations Champions in Cardiff. The matches replace Argentina’s home games against Wales. The Welsh were scheduled to play two tests in Argentina and one in Uruguay in July. The test …

Argentina are preparing for a busy 2021. Los Pumas will play 12 test matches, none of which will be in Argentina. In reporting for El Ciudadano, Lisando Olearo notes that the matches will come in three cateogries. First, three relocated test matches in July. Second, the Rugby Championship from August …

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.   UP LA Giltinis Austin hosted LA at Bold Stadium for a surprise preseason tilt on Saturday. The Giltinis won with …