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Colombia’s first rugby player to play in France is Andrés Zafra. The 21-year-old joined Lyon from Colombia when he was 19 and is now preparing for the upcoming Top 14 season. Zafra played for Lyon on Friday night. The club faced Grenoble in a pre-season friendly match, running out 26-19 …

A special guest has been visiting Band Saracens this week. 24-year-old Argentine hooker Santiago Iglesias Valdés featured at the team’s training at the Band Arena in São Paulo. Santiago Iglesias Valdés is the older brother of Erick who plays for Band Saracens. Together with his father German and brother Agustín …

With the new 2017-2018 season just around the corner clubs across Europe continue with their recruitment. In Spanish the 2017 champions, Valladolid Rugby Asociación Club (VRAC) Quesos Entrepinares has added a former Puma. Tomás Carrió joins the Spanish champions from Italy. Aged 28, Carrió is a former PladAR player. Capable …

A recent Beach Rugby tournament was a success in St. Lucia, writes Rugby Americas North. Played at Vigee Beach on July 16, the St. Lucia Rugby Football Union hosted the 2017 Carnival Beach Rugby, an annual signature event for the Union. Competing were teams in both the men’s and women’s …

Super Rugby is downsizing. The 2018 season will have 15 teams, down three from 18. There are a variety of motives driving the change, one of which is performance. This raises the question – would two Argentine teams be competitive in Super Rugby? Comparative Performance Los Jaguares completed their second …

The USA Islanders have named a star-studded roster to face Saracens. The teams are to meet in an important fixture for both parties and also for Bermuda. The Island nation will play host to the match on August 10. Saracens are using the occasion as preseason training. The club had …

Tonga Head Coach Toutai Kefu is feeling upbeat about playing in the Pool of Death. The Pacific Islanders recent qualification for Japan 2019 saw them grouped with Argentina, England, France and the USA. Tonga were the fifth and final team to qualify but the dating task is being greeted with …

Francisco Ferronato has replaced Nicolás Solveyra in the Argentina XV roster. The national ‘A’ side will take-on Toulon this coming Saturday in the first of two fixtures. Solveyra had been named in the roster for the match but has been ruled out through ill discipline. The CUBA prop was red …

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 Trinidad & Tobago Women Trinidad & Tobago won the Women’s 10’s Champions in Miami on Friday. The Caribbean nation ran out winners …

Samu Manoa is to miss Toulon’s Argentina tour. The USA enforcer has been confirmed as not being considered fit to take part in the upcoming two-match series between Toulon and the Argentina XV. The loss continues what has been an extended lay-off period for the Eagles forward. The 32-year-old’s season …