World Rugby announces 2019 Americas Rugby Championship; U.S. home matches set for Austin and Seattle
• USA Rugby hosting two home matches in Austin (2/23) and Seattle (3/2) – Canada home match also played in Seattle (3/8)
• United States look for the ARC “3-peat” having won the 2017, 2018 tournaments.
• Tickets to go on sale in near future, fans can register for USA Rugby Pre-Sale and reserve early access to ticket launch.
The United States Men’s National Team, winners of the last two Americas Rugby Championship tournaments, will kick off their consecutive title defense on February 2, 2019 as the ARC has released its 2019 schedule where this year’s competition will see six nations playing five games over six weeks.
The United States first home match will take place in Round Rock, TX outside of Austin on February 23 against Brazil at Dell Diamond, home to the Austin Elite of Major League Rugby. Week three then sees the United States host Uruguay in Seattle on March 2 at the Seattle Seawolves home pitch, Starfire Sports Complex. Ticket availability is to be confirmed, however fans can register for the USA Rugby exclusive pre-sale for early access to the best seats.
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Additionally, the United States will face Canada at Starfire Sports on March 8 as Rugby Canada will host it’s third home match just over the border in Seattle. In partnership with the Seattle Seawolves, Rugby Canada will shortly release ticket information.
“As the Americas Rugby Championship continues to grow year over year, we’re thrilled to host another two home matches in addition to our joint-venture with Rugby Canada.” Noted Men’s Eagles GM, Dave Hodges, “Brazil and Uruguay will bring a renewed spirit to the table and our home fans will be that much more vital to our success. It will be crucial for us to deliver in all five ARC test matches as we open our 2019 World Cup year.”
A bye week has been added after Week Two as part of the tournament’s commitment toward player welfare.
In a year that will culminate with a hopeful four ARC nations playing in the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, every game will be relevant as teams and players build toward competing on the sport’s largest stage.
Last defeated in this tournament in March 2016, the Men’s Eagles enter as the team to beat. However, ARC 2016 champion Argentina XV will welcome the USA to Río Negro in Round Two, aiming to respond to the U.S. victory in Los Angeles early last year. After drawing the first two times these teams met, the United States managed a narrow 17-10 win in the opening round of the 2018 tournament taking early control of the tournament; a lead they did not relinquish.
Canada, fourth in 2018, is currently preparing for the Rugby World Cup 2019 Repechage tournament in France this month. Looking to represent as a fourth team from the Americas qualified for the 2019 World Cup.
The six-team, fifteen-game tournament, played in nine different cities, will again be widely available for live viewing, with broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
Rugby Americas President Agustín Pichot said: “In announcing the schedule for the fourth edition of the Americas Rugby Championship, we are delighted with the sustained growth the tournament has experienced. The ARC was born out of the need to create a vehicle to inspire a younger generation of players and fans, while assisting in the development of the current players. Year over year, this has been widely achieved.”
Pichot continued: “2019 is a very big year for rugby. Having both regions of the Americas as early as February in international competition shows that we are ready to continue growing and developing. Furthermore, I’m very happy with the bye week being added to the schedule in the interest of player welfare.”
Rugby Americas CEO Dan Payne added: “The leading competition within the Americas region, the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, will look to prepare players from what we hope will be four countries, pending the results of the Repechage Tournament in Europe, for next year’s Rugby World Cup. Simultaneously, the competition serves as a vehicle to grow and promote rugby across all six countries as they each keep an eye toward 2023.”
Payne further added: “2018 saw two successful Rugby Americas tournaments in the ARC and the Americas Rugby Challenge. There are exciting plans already underway that will continue to add content to the growing Rugby Americas (Rugby Americas North & Sudamérica Rugby) competition portfolio.”
Rugby Americas is also is unveiling a new logo for the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship. The chosen color palette for this strong logo represents the colors of each nation involved in the tournament. The metallic treatment and heavy typeface represent strength and staying power.
2019 Americas Rugby Championship Schedule
Week 1
February 2 Uruguay v Canada in Montevideo
February 2 Argentina XV v Brazil in Neuquén
February 2 Chile v USA in Santiago
Week 2
February 9 Argentina XV v USA in Río Negro
February 9 Brazil v Canada in Sao Paulo
February 9 Uruguay v Chile in Montevideo
Week 3 – Rest week
Week 4
February 22 Canada v Chile in Langford
February 23 Argentina XV v Uruguay in Buenos Aires
February 23 USA v Brazil in Austin
Week 5
March 1 Canada v Argentina XV in Langford
March 2 USA v Uruguay in Seattle
March 2 Brazil v Chile in Sao Paulo
Week 6
March 8 USA v Canada in Seattle (Canada Home Match)
March 9 Chile v Argentina XV in Santiago
March 9 Uruguay v Brazil in Montevideo
