USA

We’ve almost put a wrap on a difficult and frustrating 2020, but there were still some rugby games to keep an eye on this past weekend. Americas players were busy in Europe with the Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Pro D2, and Premier 15s all underway. So too the Currie Cup …

Match order is fundamental in sport. Some teams can be eliminated early based on how their matches are distributed. This issue has occurred repeatedly at RWCs. There are a number of reasons for this, none more so than organizers positioning key pool matches at certain points of the pool phase. …

The LA Giltinis have confirmed the signing of Belmont Shore winger Visesio Leasi for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. An imposing figure at 6’2″ (1.88m) and 240lbs (110kg), it’s the first professional contract for the 23-year-old. Leasi was born in American Samoa and played for Samoa Schools against Australia …

Old Glory DC has secured a partnership with The St. James as their full-time training facility for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The sports complex, located in nearby Springfield, Virginia, served as the venue for the team’s two preseason games prior to the 2020 campaign. In addition to the …

Mike Shepherd will play a fourth Major League Rugby season with the Seattle Seawolves. The 31-year-old hooker has extended his stay with the two-time champions, becoming the 13th player to renew during the off-season and third front rower. Injuries have disrupted Shepherd’s involvement with the team during his the first …

The LA Giltinis will welcome a third player from Darren Coleman’s Shute Shield-winning Gordon side for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Having already confirmed hooker Mahe Vailanu and scrumhalf Harrison Goddard, LA will bring in front rower Robbie Abel to help bolster the scrum. At 28 years old Charlie …

The Greene King IPA Championship, England’s second division, will begin a drastically reduced season on the weekend of March 6. Having conceded six months to the pandemic, the 12-team competition will now be split into two conferences with each side playing 10 regular season games. It remains to be seen …

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 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby The second edition of the Súper Liga American de Rugby (SLAR) will have …

Luca Tani will trade one cocktail for another as the Austin Gilgronis lock has signed for the LA Giltinis. The 25-year-old from Santa Cruz returns to his home state for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. A late addition to the AG’s roster in 2020 from San Francisco Golden Gate, …

The Austin Gilgronis have signed a third scrumhalf for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. 20-year-old Indiana native Sidney Shoop joins incumbent internationals Marcelo Torrealba and Pele Cowley at the revamped Texas club. Shoop earned invitations to two High School All-American camps while playing for South Greenville. He attended the …