Photo Credit: Rugby Canada





A press release issued by Rugby Americas today confirmed that the Western Hemisphere rugby nations will now transition to what has previously been called the Rugby Championship Window. The schedule for Canada and the United States no longer aligns with their European counterparts.





Rugby Americas highlighted the South American league that is projected to come online in February, however, it remains to be seen if they will hold their matrix season. Much like with Major League Rugby's first season, what is called SuperLiga Americana de Rugby still has much to be done with Uruguay's franchise well ahead of the other participating countries. The South American league getting off the ground in a sustainable manner will push the quality of test rugby further forward.





In addition to the ARC aligning with the Southern Hemisphere window, which gives Major League Rugby an uninterrupted season, Rugby Americas will be launching the U20 ARC. The U20 ARC will fall in the same window as the Americas Rugby Championship. It will be interesting to see how the schedule aligns as the World Rugby Under 2

0 Trophy was scheduled to be hosted by Spain in the latter portion of September 2020. If it works out, the qualifiers from the ARC would enter the tournament having been blooded and in camp for several weeks giving them excellent preparation for the World Rugby Under 20 Trophy.



The move of the US and Canada to the Southern Hemisphere Window is interesting just as USA Rugby continues to deal with financial issues that were created from what can only be entitled: The RIM Disaster. Keeping the Men Eagles together for a 12 week period of time will be quite expensive. It will be great to see the sort of continuity will be achieved from this dramatic shift.



Dates for the 2020 Americas Rugby Championship:

August 15:

Chile at Argentina XV

Canada at USA

Brazil at Uruguay

August 22:

Brazil at Canada

Argentina XV at Uruguay

Chile at USA

August 29:

Argentina at Brazil

Chile at Canada

Uruguay at USA

September 5:

Canada at Argentina XV

USA at Brazil

Uruguay at Chile

September 12

USA at Argentina XV

Brazil at Chile

Canada at Uruguay



~Aaron Castro