IRB unveils new Americas tournament

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The new tournament features six teams, including four provincial sides from Canada joined by the Argentina Jaguars and USA 'A'.

The format unites Rugby in North and South America in a high performance sub-international structure for the first time.

"The Americas Rugby Championship is a huge step forward for elite Rugby in North and South America," said Mark Egan, IRB Head of Development and Performance.

"Canada, USA and Argentina are priority Unions for our High Performance investment programme and their domestic based players and coaches require a tournament format that exposes them to high level cross border competition on a more regular basis."

"The tournament is currently structured to primarily focus on our High Performance Unions in the Region, however, it is hoped that it will expand over time to include other countries such as Uruguay, Chile, Mexico and Brazil."

Canadian Regional teams Atlantic, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia will re-ignite traditional rivalries in a round robin pool taking place in September. The top four will qualify for the semi-finals held on October 10, with the finals taking place on October 17 in Toronto.

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...434888,00.html

[Working Class]

I heard of this championship a while ago. Originally there were going to be 4 US teams. The Jaguars are going to win this Championship in a canter.

[AndyS]

It doesn't seem to make much sense. Canada fields four teams, but the US and Argies field their domestically based national teams? I would have thought two teams from each would have been a more sensible basis, with replacement over time with other national teams when they're ready.

[Working Class]

Well considering both Argentina and the USA have more player than Canada it doesn't make sense. Though this leaves the USA with the oppotunity to develop its National league independent of Canada, which was what I thought the whole idea of this intiative was originally.