USA take advantage of no Rugby Championship with new fixture added

USA Rugby have confirmed that the men’s team will face an Argentina XV in Florida this summer, with the two nations set to meet at Inter Miami CF Stadium, home to Lionel Messi’s MLS side, in Fort Lauderdale on August 15.

The fixture will mark the USA’s first match in Florida in more than a decade and will come after a July where the Eagles face Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain in the World Rugby Nations Cup.

For Argentina, the match will come sandwiched between Tests against South Africa on August 8 and Australia on August 29 for the senior side.

The clash will also be the first meeting between the two nations since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, where the Pumas claimed a 47-17 victory in Kumagaya.

The fixture is being billed as another significant occasion for the sport in North America, with the men’s World Cup coming in 2031 and the women’s showcase following two years later.

Fixture

Nations Championship

Argentina

12:10

4 Jul 26

Scotland

All Stats and Data

USA Rugby and TEG Rugby Live are encouraging supporters to register for pre-sale access before tickets go on general sale next month. Pre-sale tickets will become available on June 2 before general sale opens on June 4.

The Eagles will be boosted by the return of fly-half AJ MacGinty for the fixture, who will make his return to action this weekend for the Bristol Bears for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon in September.

The 30-cap international also signed a one-year contract extension with Bristol this week.

“He’s faced a challenging period with injury this year, but his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the group have been exceptional throughout,” his boss Pat Lam said. The influence he has on our younger players and the standards he sets every day are invaluable.

“AJ is a true professional with a genuine hunger to keep improving and competing and we’re excited to continue working with him and seeing the impact he’ll have on the group moving forward.”