The 2018 Americas Rugby Challenge or ARCh 2018 was the inaugural edition of the Americas Rugby Challenge, a men's rugby union international tournament for tier 2 teams in North and South America. The inaugural edition was confirmed in August 2018, to be played at the Estadio Cincuentenario in Medellín, Colombia from August 24 to September 1.[1]
| Date | 24 August – 1 September 2018 |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Colombia Guyana  Mexico Paraguay |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Colombia |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Top scorer(s) | José Manuel Diosa (54) |
| Most tries | Neider García (5) |
2019 → | |
The competition brings together Rugby Americas North (RAN) and Sudamérica Rugby, following the example of the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC). The Americas Rugby Challenge is officially the ‘B’ competition for the ARC.
As is the case of the Americas Rugby Championship, the new Americas Rugby Challenge saw all countries playing against each other. The first edition of the competition was a Four Nations tournament with Rugby Americas North and Sudamérica Rugby both having two representatives each.[2]
The host nation, Colombia, was joined by Sudamérica Rugby rivals Paraguay. Guyana and Mexico represented Rugby Americas North.[1] Colombia won the first edition.
Teams
editTable
edit| Champions |
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Try BP |
Losing BP |
Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | diff | |||||
| 1 | Colombia |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 36 | +124 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | Paraguay |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 160 | 87 | +73 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 3 | Mexico |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 126 | –42 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Guyana |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 205 | –155 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points At least 3 or more tries than opponent – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points [3] | |||||||||||
Fixtures
editMatch day 1
edit| 26 August 2018 |
| (1 TBP) Paraguay | 45–36 | Mexico (1 TBP) |
| Try: S. Alvarenga 2 (8’, 46’), S. Urbieta (18’), C. Plate 2 (38’, 56’) Con: S. Urbieta 2/3 (9’, 39’), S. Alvarenga 2/2 (47’, 57’) Pen: S. Urbieta 0/2, S. Alverenga 2/3 (40’, 74’) Drop: S. Alvarenga 2/2 (51’, 67’) | Report | Try: J. Martínez 2 (16’, 22’), R. Ripoll (32’), T. Allen (69’), F. Guerrero (78’) Con: F. Guerrero 4/5 (17’, 23’, 70’, 79’) Pen: F. Guerrero 1/1 (60’) |
| Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellin |
| 26 August 2018 |
| (1 TBP) Colombia | 71–7 | Guyana |
| Try: N. García 2 (5’, 14’), J. Diosa 3 (12’, 30’, 39’), Se. Mejía (34’), B. Campiño (37’), A. Álvarez 2 (46’, 59’), B. Pérez (69’), Jo. Álvarez (73’), J. Giraldo (80’) Con: J. Diosa 2/7 (15’, 40’), E. Bedoya 2/4 (70’, 74’) Pen: J. Diosa 1/1 (9’) | Report | Try: J. Rahaman (63’) Con: R. Gonsalves 1/1 (64’) |
| Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellin |
Match day 2
editMatch day 3
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Historic Americas Rugby Challenge Confirmed for August and September, from americasrugbynews.com
- ^ World Rugby announces ARCh teams and logo
- ^ "2018 Americas Rugby Challenge".
- ^ "Paraguay romp past Guyana on Day Two of Americas Rugby Challenge". americas rugby news. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Colombia too good for Mexico". americas rugby news. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Colombia make History by defeating Paraguay". americas rugby news. September 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Mexico down Guyana to finish 3rd in Americas Rugby Challenge". americas rugby news. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.