Italy coach Conor O’Shea has opted to change up his backline after the narrow victory over the Eagles on Saturday. Tommaso Allan will start at flyhalf in place of Carlo Canna in the most significant change, giving the Treviso-bound playmaker a chance to impress the new management. Tommaso Boni has …

Pumas enforcer Tomás Lavanini is back after serving a suspension. The giant lock replaces Tomás Lezana in the starting lineup, with Javier Ortega Desio shifting to the flank after filling in as an emergency second row on Sunday. No other changes are found up front. Two changes are found in …

Guy Novès has made sweeping changes to his France team that dropped the first test against Argentina in decisive fashion. Jules Plisson has been dumped not just as captain but also from the starting side, with Toulouse lock Yoann Maestri set to lead for the first time after joining the …

The Rugby Championship is to replicate the Super Rugby Bonus Point System, SANZAAR has confirmed. The system follows changes in prior years in the French Top 14 in which the four-try bonus point system was removed to, instead, award teams by scored three more tries than their opposition. Starting on …

It was a full weekend with tons of rugby to get through, but we’ve done it and come up with a decent team. We had to look through a multitude of candidates from the Top 14 semis, PRO Rugby, the Nations Cup, and of the course the June internationals. After …

Argentine fly half Sebastián Poet will continue his professional career in France next season but will be doing so for the newly promoted Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente. His club from the 2015-2016 season, Tarbes will play next season in the Fédérale 1 after having been relegated. Aged 23 Poet is a …

The Federación Venezolana de Rugby have announced a 12-man roster for the SAR (Región Norte y Centro) Rugby Sevens tournament in Guarne, Antioqueño, Colombia. The Venezuelans will compete in a two-ay tournament from July 08-09 which is to include leading teams from the region in addition to Chile’s leading annual …

Argentine fly half Bautista Güemes has completed a transfer from Agen to Vannes. The move comes following the French club having been relegated from the Top 14 to the Pro d2. In having finished the season in the bottom two Agen will play second season in the second division. Aged …

On Saturday the USA Eagles played their first of two home internationals this month, taking on Italy in San José, California. The close battle ended in a disappointing 24-20 loss to the Azzurri, seen by many as a missed opportunity to defeat a Tier 1 side short of their best players. The …

The South American Republics of Argentina and Colombia share increasingly tight international relations. This is true both in trade and in sporting terms with rugby having gained importance in the bilateral dialogue between the two countries. During his visit this past week to Colombia, Argentine President Mauricio Macri signed agreements …

Brazil’s Women’s Rugby Sevens team are set to compete in their final pre-Olympic Games competition, doing so in Seattle. Over the next two days Brazil will compete against teams from Canada and the USA. Both Canada and the USA are to compete with two teams while Brazil will do so …

Argentina hosted France in the first of two test matches between the countries on Sunday evening. Played in the northern city of Tucumán the home side completed a 30-19 victory, doing so by three tries to one. Second-rower, Guido Petti (pictured) scored the try of the night. The fixture was …

Los Pumas utility back Juan Martín Hernández is out for two weeks, meaning he will play no part in the second test match against France this coming Saturday in Tucumán. Having started at inside center, Hernández was forced off injured in the 21st minute. His place was taken by Santiago …

Ireland ended Los Pumitas Junior World Championship dream earlier today as the Western Europeans produced an outstanding performance to eliminate the South Americans at the Semi Finals stage. The win sees Ireland reach the World Rugby Junior World Championship Final for the first time in history. For Los Pumitas the loss against Ireland …

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 Canada XVs Having come unstuck against Japan one week earlier Canada turned things around in style to annihilate Russia in Calgary on Saturday. …

Spain are in Sevens Heaven after they shocked the rugby world with a monumental performance on Day Two in Monaco, defeating heavily favored Samoa in a nail-biting final to lift the Cup in Monaco and earn the final spot at the Olympic Games. A last-second try to 32-year-old veteran Ignacio …

Denver have tasted defeat at last. Ohio earned their second successive blowout victory with a stunning 48-27 upheaval of the previously undefeated league leaders. The win brings the Stampede ever so slightly down to earth and creaks the door open just enough for Ohio to get a glance at the …

There have been changes to the Americas Rankings following international competition this weekend. The updated Americas Rankings – June 19 2016 see rises and falls for a number of countries. Argentina’s 30-19 win over France sees Argentina obtaining a slight gain to rise from 82.59 to a new ranking of 82.87 points. …

Played on Friday evening in Rennes, France the first of two Top 14 Semi Finals was truly sensational. With scored tied at 27-27 at full-time the fixture was forced into overtime. The two additional 10 minute halves saw Clermont Auvergne going six points ahead only to be overtaken with one …

Argentina overcame France in Tucumán this evening, winning the opening test match of what is a two-match series. The South Americans were made to work hard for the win with France causing plenty of problems, especially in the forwards. France’s makeshift selection was not expected to win in Argentina but, …