Tag Archives: Top 14

Castres Olympique have publicly confirmed the signing of Tyler Ardron from the Chiefs. Canada’s Rugby World Cup 2019 captain will depart New Zealand at the completion of Super Rugby Aotearoa to join the French Top 14 club on a two-year contract. Ardron is now in his third season at the …

Argentine players are officially being encouraged to take up offers from abroad. The change in stance from the UAR comes as the crushing reality of COVID-19 is clear – Los Jaguares are out of Super Rugby. The players were told in April that they would have no further Super Rugby …

Officially there are 59 players who have been identified for RWC 2023. They are the players recently selected by Mario Ledesma. His roster contained a mix of players based at home and abroad. There were fourteen players who play in Europe. Ledesma included four or more players across all positions. …

Rimas Álvarez Kairelis has been voted in the all-time Perpignan Dream Team on Dico du Sport. The former Pumas second-rower played for the French team in the Top 14 from 2001-2011. He originally arrived as a medical joker, joining fellow Argentine second-rower Alejandro Allub at the club. During his time playing …

Uruguay star Santiago Arata will join Castres Olympique on a two-year contract. Though the Top 14 club have yet to formally announce their signings, the deal was confirmed by retiring captain Rodrigo Capó Ortega in an interview with Federico Buysán on Uruguayan radio station Sport 890. While the move to …

Two promising teenagers from the Americas will head to France to take up spots in the Brive academy. Argentina u20 prop Francisco Coria and USA u18 lock Sione Lolohea are among five new recruits for the Top 14 club’s ‘Espoirs’ side. Coria turns 20 in July and would have been …

Rodrigo Capó Ortega has officially retired from rugby. The legendary Uruguayan international was to play out the current season with Castres Olympique, but with the remainder of the Top 14 schedule cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic it means the 39-year-old’s career has come to an end. Hailing from Montevideo, Capó Ortega …

There were 14 European-based players named on Mario Ledesma’s 59-man training roster. The number is far greater than that which he took to Japan to compete at RWC 2019. The overall number, rather than the percentage, is what is notable. Despite the return to inclusion, Argentina’s roster still has names …

Mario Ledesma has moved beyond RWC 2019. His team fell short in Japan, being eliminated in the group stage with wins over Tonga and the USA but losses against France and England. Covid-19 means that the new era on the field will be delayed. Off the field the coaching regime …

Taylor Paris is officially a free agent after Castres Olympique opted not to re-sign the Canadian winger. Despite being a regular starter in his three seasons with the club, the pandemic has forced the 2018 Top 14 champions to make significant cuts to their payroll heading into the 2020-21 season. …