American 6 Nations kicking off - USA, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay!

Great news, both Canada and Argentina, have been kicking off for 20 years trying to get into the European 6 nations, now it looks like the Americas have started their own!



http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/14326169/schedule-americas-six-nations-called-amercas-rugby-championship-unveiled

The schedule for the inaugural 'Americas Rugby Championship' has been announced - a tournament that will be played while Europe's top teams contest the Six Nations.

The format sees the United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay face each other across six rounds in February and March. The tournament will be played under the guidance of the Americas Rugby Association and gives the six sides five extra Tests on an annual basis.

"We are delighted to be able to announce the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship that will take place next year," said Americas Rugby Chairman Agustín Pichot. "This could not have happened without the hard work and cooperation of all six rugby unions involved.

"We would also like to thank World Rugby for their support. This is a very exciting time for the Americas, with our first truly international tournament, as rugby continues to thrive and prosper in this region."

The tournament kicks off on February 6 with the USA facing Argentina in Houston, Canada hosting Uruguay in British Columbia and Chile playing Brazil in Santiago. The USA then host Canada in Austin and Chile at Ft. Lauderdale in rounds two and three before travelling to Brazil and Uruguay.

"The response to the announcement of the Americas Rugby Championship earlier this year reached a fever pitch and we're excited to reveal the locations of our three home matches," USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville said. "Texas has welcomed the Eagles with open arms in the recent past and it's great to be taking the Eagles back to Florida. The development of a Panamerican competition is a significant step forward for the future of rugby in the Americas."

Actually can Wales join this, Wales going to play in Florida sounds like a lot of fun!

Will that be an Argentinian seconds / development side, or the full firsts?

It's not in the SH release window so they (Argentina) won't have access to European based players. Do they have a SXVIII team? If so they probably wouldn't want those players either.

However, it IS in the NH release window. Which means the US and Canada players may be called up. I think.

Not sure how it will work, but the expectation is this will be similar to the Argentina jaguars, the Argies second side. It would be difficult to see the benefit of the full Argentina side playing these tier 2 and tier 3 sides. At least for now.

Argentina are too good a side to be playing in this, surely it must be their 2nd team playing in this.

It is the Jaguars...their Saxons, Wolfhounds equivalent.

Makes sense. Should be fairly even competition for Jags, Eagles, and Lunberjacks (OK I just made that up for the Canadians). Maybe for Uruguay, too. I really don't know anything about Chile. Brazil, well, is Brazil.

Interesting factoid about Brazil. Soccer and Rugby were introduced into Brazil at the same time by some Itinerant Brits. Some time in the late 1800s (no, I wasn't there). They set up the SPAC, Sao Paulo Athletic Club, which still has one soccer pitch and one Rugby pitch. For some reason soccer took off and Rugby didn't. I was fortunate to have been invited to dine there a few years ago and it is remarkable. Behind a high wall, it's a haven of green in the middle of one of the most chaotic cities in the world. And it's fantastic to see a perfect Rugby pitch down there.

Brasil played Germany last week I think or the week before,. They lost but by all accounts they have a typical South American pack and they dominated the germans there.

History is made as Chile edge Brazil 25-22 in the opening match at Vina del Mar.

Brasil

Tries: Daniel Sancery, Felipe Sancery, Lucas Tranquez "Zé"

Conversões: David Harvey (2)

Penais: David Harvey (1)

15 Daniel Sancery (Albi, França), 14 Stefano Giantorno (San Luis, Argentina), 13 Felipe Sancery (Albi, França), 12 Moisés Duque (São José), 11 Lucas Tranquez “Zé” (SPAC), 10 David Harvey (NSW Country Eagles, Austrália), 9 Beukes Cremer (Pasteur), 8 Nick Smith (SPAC), 7 João Luiz da Ros “Ige” (Desterro), 6 Mak Jackson “Wacko” (Desterro), 5 Luiz Gustavo Vieira “Monstro” (Oyonnax, França), 4 Lucas Piero “Bruxinho” (Desterro), 3 Jardel Vettorato (San Diego), 2 Daniel Danielewicz “Nativo” (Desterro), 1 Wilton Rebolo “Nelson” (São José).

Suplentes: 16 Yan Rosetti (CUBA, Argentina), 17 Lucas Abud (SPAC), 18 Vitor Ancina (Curitiba), 19 Felipe Tissot (Curitiba), 20 Arthur Bergo (SPAC), 21 Martin Schaefer (SPAC), 22 Lucas Duque “Tanque” (São José), 23 Laurent Bourda-Couhet (Band Saracens).


Chile

Tries: Italo Zunino, Francisco de La Fuente, José Ignacio Larenas

Conversões: Matías Nordenflycht (2)

Penais: Matías Nordenflycht (2)

15 Leonardo Montoya (Rouen, França), 14 José Ignacio Larenas (Universidad Católica), 13 Matías Nordenflycht (COBS), 12 Francisco de la Fuente (Bagnères, França), 11 Italo Zunino (COBS), 10 Cristián Onetto (Old Boys), 9 Beltrán Vergara (Old Boys), 8 Benjamín Soto (Stade Français) (c), 7 Javier Richard (COBS), 6 Cristóbal Niedmann (Old Boys), 5 Matías Cabrera (Cisneros, Espanha), 4 Nikola Bursic (COBS), 3 Sergio de la Fuente (Waipu, Nova Zelândia), 2 Rodrigo Moya (Prince of Wales), 1 José Ramón Ayarza (La Voulte, França).

Suplentes: 16 Tomás Dussaillant (Old Boys), 17 Claudio Zamorano (Stade Français), 18 Luis Sepúlveda (Troncos), 19 Raimundo Piwonka (Prince of Wales), 20 Ignacio Silva (Stade Français), 21 Juan Pablo Perrotta (Universidad Católica), 22 Pablo Casas (Prince of Wales), 23 Matías Contreras (Alumni).

Should be a good tournament.

What these sides need.

Some facinating results on day 1:

Chile 25, Brazil 22
Canada 33, Uruguay 17
USA 35, Arg Jaguars 35.

Supposedly that last game was amazing...

Good result for the US, even if it is only Argentina's second (domestic) XV.

Would like to see Canada win it, always liked them.
Enjoyed watching them in the world cup.

Some good games by the look of the score lones.

Anyone know of a highlights programme, channel?

Or a case of watching on the internet?

Cheers.

The USA-Argie match was a lot of fun.  Both sides had their opportunities.

Close scores on all games makes things interesting for the future as should create some rivalries and have all teams improving at the same rate hopefully.

whocares wrote:Close scores on all games makes things interesting for the future as should create some rivalries and have all teams improving at the same rate hopefully.

The first round conveniently pitted the most evenly matched teams against one another. the Jaguars and USA must be favorites, followed closely by Canada, with Uruguay, Chile & Brazil, respectively, bringing up the tail end. I think the USA has overtaken Canada in recent times and may well go on to win this tournament. & I hope they do Chile & Brazil just had their easiest game of the championship and are likely to be thumped in the rest, with the solitary exception of los Condores ve los Teros (Chile v Uruguay), which could be close.

Disappointing some of the supposedly 'global' rugby web sites chose to ignore this. I think the point was to really put Americas Rugby on the map. But apparently 'global' means the Aviva Premiership, the 6 Nations and whatever internationals the 4 Home Unions happen to be involved in.

Remarkable effort by Brazil in the second round, staying within just a few points of 2015 World Cup qualifiers Uruguay.

Meanwhile, the US seems to have turned the tables on Canada these days, registered another win over international rugby's major underachievers last night.

Argentina B romped home with a half century against Chile, as expected.

Were Uruguay at full strength? They were at least without Sagario their TH who will line up with Munster today. Good result for Brazil regardless even though i must admit it's strange for me to see them in Rugby, as i'm so used to see them in Soccer!

Canada lost their coach to Treviso earlier this year despite him being contracted. This is very disappointing news as they looked very lively during the World Cup and they have a lot of potential.

One of my mates from here traveled to Texas to watch the game. Said the match was pretty high quality and both sides were working well. Good win for the Eagles. 1 win and 1 draw for John Mitchell. he hasn't imploded yet..........

VinceWLB wrote:Were Uruguay at full strength? They were at least without Sagario their TH who will line up with Munster today. Good result for Brazil regardless even though i must admit it's strange for me to see them in Rugby, as i'm so used to see them in Soccer!
 

Going by 2014, the Brazilians might do better in rugby these days! & going by Friday night's result, they might not be too far away from appearing at a Rugby World Cup. There playing numbers have roughly doubled in the past several years, now at around 10,000. Olympic 7s should also be a boost for the sport in the Southern Hemisphere's biggest nation.

A couple of interesting stats from the game in Chile. It was arond 35 degrees celsius, suggesting that this time-frame is at least a month too early in the years. Many parts of Canada were well below zero this weekend as well, but fortunately their national team had an away game with the US in Texas. The game in Chile also drew a crowd of around 8000, whereas Canada - for some bizarre reason - is playing its home fixtures in a tiny stadium of about 1500. Meanwhile, no team managed two wins in the first two rounds. The US and Argentina B are atop the table with a win and a draw apiece (they drew with each other last weekend), Canada, Uruguay and Chile all have a win and a loss, while Brazil bring up rear with two narrow defeats.

After an extensive search of the web I finally located last night's results of this very poorly-covered international championship:

Argentina 24 Uruguay 21
Canada 55 Brazil 25
USA 64 Chile 0

USA might be headed for the title on points for & against at this rate. Argentina required a late try to down Los Teros.

In fact, with only Brazil & Uruguay left to play, the US looks on target for the title:

Americas Rugby Championship 2016 standings

1. USA –13 points (+72)
2. Argentina XV –12 points (+40)
3. Canada –10 points (+35)
4. Uruguay –6 points (-15)
5. Chile –4 points (-96)
6. Brazil –2 points (-34)

Stunning win for Brazil over the USA last night! Must be on a par with Japan beating the Boks. Never saw this coming. The US were top-of-the-table after a comfortable win over arch-rival Canada and a respectable draw with Argentina B. Their 60-0 thrashing of Chile had them in pole position to take out the title on aggregate points difference, but this result turns everything on its head. Meanwhile, Uruguay had a narrow win in Chile.

At the rate Brazil are improving, we might see them at the World Cup very soon, especially if it is expanded to 24 in 23, as has been rumored...

Would be good to see Brazil in Italy (or Ireland).

They might even be there before that. On today's performance they could very well qualify for the World Cup in South Africa in 2023, especially if it goes with the mooted 24-team expansion format.

2023 wc hasn't been awarded yet Rowanbi. Given your obssession thought you would have known.

Just projecting the most verisimilar & propitious scenario. Inshallah!

Congrats on making me look up 2 new words, but even then I think you're being a bit optimistic for SA's chances there. Not a Muslim myself so I'll just say lets pray for a debut host in Italy or Ireland; Amen.

Well, Argentina thumped Canada last night, so I think the US has just blown its chances of becoming the winners of the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship. Real shame, actually. I'd much rather have see the Eagles take it out than Argentina 'B.' Next week sees Uruguay hosting the US, Brazil at home to Argentina and Canada travel to Chile. Argentina needs only to win to clinch the title.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Congrats on making me look up 2 new words, but even then I think you're being a bit optimistic for SA's chances there. Not a Muslim myself so I'll just say lets pray for a debut host in Italy or Ireland; Amen.

Hallelujah to that.

I'd like to see an Asia-Pacific 6 Nations set up along these lines: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Fiji, Samoa & Tonga. That would be a great means by which to help develop a couple more Asian rugby powers. & Korea and Hong Kong are ranked ahead of both Chile and Brazil. In fact, they're more than a dozen places ahead of the latter.

Rugby described as the fastest growing team sport in America. Melville suggests the US could soon be among the 'Big 5.' http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/04/sport/usa-rugby-nigel-melville/index.html

I think in the near future we are going to see Argentina firmly supplant France in the Big 5, the Celtic nations will fall even further behind the Southern Hemisphere giants, Italy should start beating them (the Celts) regularly, and Georgia may really start to challenge them as well. Long term, now that Pro Rugby has arrived, we can be pretty sure that the US will rank among the heavyweights within a few decades or so. They have always been the sleeping giants of rugby, with both players and financial resources in good supply, as well as the ideal physical attributes for a dynamic, full-contact team sport. Canada will benefit as well, obviously, though perhaps not quite to the same degree. Russia, which also has a professional league, may well join them. State funding is probably the key factor, and hopefully this will increase with 7s about to hit the Olympics.

Good to see T2 tournaments being discussed here ... this forum is a bit T1 centric.

Rowambi three points

1. I take it you've never watched rugby because if you have there's no way you could ever say Italy are soon going to start beating the Celtic nations regularly.

2. Big 5? With France and England? When was the last time England won a six nations or France competed in one

3. America will never be a heavyweight in rugby because any young American wanting to play a contact sport will grow up playing American football and why wouldn't they? The lowest ranked player on each team gets an automatic $250,00 a year plus its the exposure there is far superior to rugby. Also they're two different sports that by the time a young lad has finished in uni he's 21/22/23 and he can't automatically play rugby at an international level to compete with the all blacks as he lacks the technique to play it. A receiver or running back may have great feet but have never learned a tackling technique and a linebacker who hits for fun has never had to pass a ball etc let alone having to learn all the rules from scratch...sam burgess anyone? they cant just leave one sport for the other. An example is carlin isles was a sprinter and can play 7s because he can run but couldn't make the grade with Glasgow in the pro12.

Had no idea this was going on - brilliant. 

So the Pumas will still be in the Rugby Championship with their second string playing in this? 

Holy smoke - look out for the Pumas' strength in depth improving by a frightening amount over the next 5 years, is that is true.

George Carlin wrote:Had no idea this was going on - brilliant. 

So the Pumas will still be in the Rugby Championship with their second string playing in this? 

Holy smoke - look out for the Pumas' strength in depth improving by a frightening amount over the next 5 years, is that is true.

Agree, mate. Los Pumas in the Rugby Championship, the second team in the Americas tournament, and the Jaguares in Super Rugby. The growth should be strong. Especially in quality player depth.

1. I take it you've never watched rugby because if you have there's no way you could ever say Italy are soon going to start beating the Celtic nations regularly.

I disagree. It took them 66 years to get their first win over a Celtic nation. They proceeded to win 3 times during their first 7 years in the 6 Nations, but have doubled that with 6 wins during the past 7 years. The trajectory is self-evident.

Big 5? With France and England? When was the last time England won a six nations or France competed in one

3 World Cup final appearances apiece (only NZ & Australia have appeared in more). SA is the only other team to have reached the final. So that's your big 5. NB: England and France are the only European teams to have beaten NZ during the past 6 decades, they've done it several times, and they are also the only European teams to have beaten them in NZ - ever.

America will never be a heavyweight in rugby because any young American wanting to play a contact sport will grow up playing American football and why wouldn't they?

But American football is solely a schools sport right up to the pros itself, so that even at high school level you have to be good enough to make the team. Otherwise, you're left out, and there's no 2nd XI or local club team to go play for as an alternative. By the time you get to college level, only the elite players are still playing, while for every gifted athlete who goes on to the pros there are thousands of players who didn't. That's thousands of disappointed footballers who find their playing careers truncated while they are still in their prime - perhaps not even at their physical peak yet. That's why many are turning to rugby.

You haven't a clue Row and you seem a bit racist.

You haven't a clue Row and you seem a bit racist.

You have the mind of a 12 year old.

So tell us again how fiercely opposed you are to a World Cup in a country with a non-white majority . . .

I am for a debut country like Italy or Ireland not opposed to a country like you. You appear prejudiced.

You claim that as the basis of your fierce opposition to a country with a non-white majority, but in fact one of those countries has been involved in hosting 2 World Cups already, so I suspect it is not your motivation at all.

So now that you've derailed the topic entirely, let's get this thing back on the tracks, shall we:

1. I take it you've never watched rugby because if you have there's no way you could ever say Italy are soon going to start beating the Celtic nations regularly.

I disagree. It took them 66 years to get their first win over a Celtic nation. They proceeded to win 3 times during their first 7 years in the 6 Nations, but have doubled that with 6 wins during the past 7 years. The trajectory is self-evident.

Big 5? With France and England? When was the last time England won a six nations or France competed in one

3 World Cup final appearances apiece (only NZ & Australia have appeared in more). SA is the only other team to have reached the final. So that's your big 5. NB: England and France are the only European teams to have beaten NZ during the past 6 decades, they've done it several times, and they are also the only European teams to have beaten them in NZ - ever.

America will never be a heavyweight in rugby because any young American wanting to play a contact sport will grow up playing American football and why wouldn't they?

But American football is solely a schools sport right up to the pros itself, so that even at high school level you have to be good enough to make the team. Otherwise, you're left out, and there's no 2nd XI or local club team to go play for as an alternative. By the time you get to college level, only the elite players are still playing, while for every gifted athlete who goes on to the pros there are thousands of players who didn't. That's thousands of disappointed footballers who find their playing careers truncated while they are still in their prime - perhaps not even at their physical peak yet. That's why many are turning to rugby.

What fierce opposition is that RR?

Argentina inaugural champions then. Wheels really came of the US Eagles on the South American tour.

05.03 São José dos Campos Brazil 7-42 Argentina 'B' Americas Championship
05.03 Santiago Chile 13-64 Canada Americas Championship
05.03 Montevideo Uruguay 29-25 USA Americas Championship