The Top 5 news of the weekend in the world of rugby

• It was known how the semifinals of the URBA Top 12 will be played

The last day of the regular phase of the URBA Top 12 was played, despite the fact that it was already known who was going to play in the playoffs, the positions were modified and the semifinals were formed. These matches, along with the final, will be played at CASI, as has been the case for some years. On Friday the 24th will be the first confrontation between Newman and Belgrano starting at 8:15 p.m. For its part, on Saturday the 25th at 5:10 p.m. the other match will be played, which will be neither more nor less the San Isidro classic: CASI vs. SIC. Those who win each match will qualify for the final which will be on Saturday, November 2.

• More promotions were defined in all categories of the URBA

The Buenos Aires Rugby categories are in the final moments, some have already played the last date as the Top 12, but others have one more day left and many things remain at stake. This last weekend, more promotions were confirmed in the various groups of the URBA. In Primera A, Los Matreros and Atlético del Rosario are what will compete in the Top 14 next year. For their part, in Primera B, those who managed to move up the category are San Fernando and GEBA. For its part, in First C, Vicentinos is the only one that has a guaranteed ticket and, on the next day, Monte Grande and Centro Naval are competing for the other ticket. In Second Division, Del Sur left no doubt, won all their matches and achieved promotion together with Los Molinos. In Tercera, Los Pinos joined the category champion, Albatros, and were able to meet their goal. Finally, in Development there were no promotions since they will unify the category with Third.

• The Pumas rolled high on their return to Europe after the Rugby Championship

After concluding a new edition of the Rugby Championship, the Argentine players who were affected with Los Pumas returned to their respective teams and some were able to debut in those they had signed. In the Premiership, Guido Petti, Rodrigo Isgró, Boris Wenger and Pedro Delgado, the latter being their debut, played in Harlequins’ victory against Saracens, which featured Lucio Cinti and Juan Martín González, 20-14. In addition, Pedro Rubiolo, Santiago Grondona and Benjamín Elizalde were part of Bristol’s victory against Exeter. Joaquín Moro participated in the second half for Leicester against Northampton. While Santiago Carreras made his debut in Bath in the victory against Matías Alemanno’s Gloucester.

In the Top 14 of France, Gerónimo Prisciantelli made his debut in Racing 92, being the starting fullback, and contributed four points and an assist in the victory against Montpellier. Gael Galván also had his first game as a starter against La Rochelle. Joaquín Oviedo and Ignacio Ruíz were present for Perpignan, while Lucio Sordoni and Segundo Tuculet were in the game for Montauban. Finally, Marcos Kremer and Bautista Delguy were present for Clermont against Toulon.

Furthermore, in the United Rugby Championship, Benetton beat the Lions 41-15 where Thomas Gallo, who returned from injury, Bautista Bernasconi, Giuliano Avaca and Ignacio Mendy were present. On the other hand, in Zebre, without Gonzalo García for the moment, there were Thomas Domínguez, Martín Roger Farías, Guido Volpi, Juan Manuel Pitinari and Franco Carrera in the 24-0 defeat against Ospreys. Finally, Rodrigo Martínez Manzano was present in the Dragons’ hard loss to Glasgow 49-0.

• Thomas Gallo returned to the courts after injury

Very good news came from the old continent for Felipe Contepomi: the pillar returned to the courts after a long recovery. The last time he was present on a field was for Argentina XV in the duel against Romania in the July window. Even before that, he had been in the match against England. Gallo could not be in the Rugby Championship due to an injury, which according to the Los Pumas head coach was a “bone bruise.” The recovery was very slow, it took him almost three months, and this weekend he was able to enter in the 51st minute from the substitute bench in Benetton’s 41-15 victory against Lions.

• Santiago Cordero suffered a serious injury against Los Tilos

The last day of the regular phase of the URBA Top 12 was played. In one of the games where nothing was at stake, Santiago Cordero had to leave the field as soon as the match began. Regatas visited Barrio Obrero and took a victory in the last play by 39-37. Before reaching the fifth minute of the first half, the wing grabbed the ball, threatening to reach the goal. The one who managed to stop him perfectly was his teammate in Los Pumas, Joaquín Tuculet. At the moment of the tackle is where the misfortune occurred: Cordero’s leg became stuck and he quickly showed signs of pain. The former Connacht player had to leave the field on a stretcher and according to what Scrum was able to find out, he would have suffered a broken tibia. This will require a lot of recovery and going through the operating room.