Just a week away from the biggest show in the rugby-verse, let’s take a look at some of the interesting numbers for you trivia-minded folk heading into the Rugby World Cup. BIGGER IS BETTER There will be some seriously tall timber on display during the tournament. Five players top 205cm …

Uruguay’s First Division Final will take place tomorrow, Saturday September 12 at Old Christians Club who are to receive Old Boys in what is a classic rivalry in Uruguayan rugby. Old Christians Club reached the final by defeating powerhouses and last year’s winners Carrasco Polo at the Semi Finals stage …

South America’s 5th ranked country, Brazil is to host a two-test match series against Germany it has been confirmed. The test matches will be played in the states of Santa Catarina and São Paulo with the CBRU anticipating a strong response from the public. The tour is to feature test matches on …

Samoa have been forced into a late change with Leicester Tigers front-rower Logovi’i Mulipola having been forced out of the Rugby World Cup. He has been replaced by veteran Toulouse tighthead prop Census Johnson who will join up with Samoa’s squad on Monday. A teammate of Patricio Albacete, Johnston is to …

The USA Maccabi rugby team is beginning their preparations for the 2015 Pan Am Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile. The squad, comprised of players of Jewish decent, has participated in the World Maccabi Games for a number of years, medaling at each event. The side won Gold in 7s at the 2013 World Games. …

Italy have called up Benetton Treviso centre Enrico Bacchin to replace clubmate Luca Morisi on their World Cup roster. Morisi injured a knee in Saturday’s warm-up test match against Wales. Bacchin, 22, was a standout for both San Donà and Mogliano in the Italian domestic league before being selected for …

Jason Marshall will take no part in the World Cup. Canada’s starting tighthead prop from the 2011 tournament had been struggling to regain full fitness with knee and back injuries hampering his build-up, and though he was named to the bench against Georgia last Wednesday he did not make an …

The best players from the Americas are all on World Cup duty, but there is still a sizeable group of overseas professionals back in the swing of things for the new club season. Here’s a quick look at those who were in action this past weekend. GUINNESS PRO 12 A couple …

Members of Italy’s World Cup roster Gonzalo Garcia and Luca Morisi underwent tests today to determine the extent of their injuries suffered on Saturday playing a warm-up match in Cardiff against World Cup sub-hosts Wales. Exams showed that Luca Morisi suffered a second degree medial collateral ligament injury in his …

This year’s edition of the Tobago International Rugby 7s Tournament will take place over the first weekend (5th & 6th) of December. Details of the cost to participate and various accommodation options available can be accessed by clicking here as can an official Registration Form and information on how to get to …

World Rugby has announced that Harare, Zimbabwe, will be the location of the 2016 Under 20 Trophy. The second tier competition will once again feature eight teams, including Uruguay, Namibia, Samoa, and four regional qualifiers yet to be determined – one each from Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia. The …

All four teams were in action this past week, including two Canadian matches, and though there were few truly exceptional performances, there were enough noteworthy contributions to throw together this cosmopolitan selection. 1 – Marcos Ayerza (ARG) Special day for the Pumas legend who pushed on his country’s scrum in …

Having gone down injured against Toulouse this past weekend Argentine Benjamín Urdapilleta now faces a three month recovery period. The ten time capped former Puma suffered a torn hamstring in his team’s 37-20 away loss. Urdapilleta is to undergo surgery over the coming days. The club is also expected to …

Welsh Head Coach Warren Gatland has confirmed Mike Phillips and Eli Walker will be replacing the injured pairing of Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb on his Rugby World Cup roster. Phillips is one of Wales’ most capped players and was a starting Lion during the 2013 tour of Australia. Eli, in contrast is a …

Welsh rugby is in mourning following the loss of Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb from the Rugby World Cup. The nation’s home match against Italy on Saturday saw both first choice players stretchered off in what was a massive blow to Welsh changes and to the tournament itself. Also hurt …

The first wave of Americans have hit the ground running in New Zealand as part of USA Rugby’s new partnership with Taranaki Rugby. Capped Eagle 7s player Mike Te’o and Eagle hopefuls Cam Falcon and David Tameilau are all in training with the Taranaki Development side as part of the …

Star Welsh fullback and goalkicker Leigh Halfpenny has been confirmed as missing the Rugby World Cup. The European Champions Cup winner with Toulon suffered an ACL injury late in the second half playing for Wales against Italy on Sunday. The injury is expected to require a six month recovery which will see him …

Following international matches this weekend the Final World Rankings have been posted before the Rugby World Cup. Confirmed as the world’s top four are New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England in that order. This means that only Pool D lacks a side ranked among the best heading into the …

The time for talk is over. All teams have completed their on-field preparations for the biggest competition of them all, the Rugby World Cup. The twenty competing teams are officially the world’s top twenty as listed in current World Rankings. Argentina’s opposition offer a mixed bag with Pool C containing …

The 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 Uruguay Uruguay rebounded from a forty point loss against Japan to end the World Cup preparation in style. Sunday’s 41-19 win …