Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV

The Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup pool stages will come to a conclusion this weekend and for American overseas there are plenty of big matches. Chris Wyles and Samu Manoa are the favorites to join Callum Black as Americans in the Heineken Cup quarterfinals if results go their way. Elsewhere, Eric Fry could see his first action for London Scottish and Shawn Pittman’s return to Trinity has been confirmed.

Take the jump to read more.



British Isles:

Heineken Cup

Chris Wyles will start for the Saracens as they play Edinburgh on Sunday.

Samu Manoa will start for Northampton against Glasgow on Saturday. Tommy Seymour will start of Glasgow. (NOTE: As is our policy, we will continue to cover U.S.-eligible players until they lose that eligibility, which for Seymour may be in the next few weeks.)

Callum Black is on the bench for Ulster as they play Castres on Saturday.

Dave Ryan is on the bench for Zebre as they take on Connacht today.

Hanno Dirksen is out injured and not in the Osprey’s lineup as they play Benetton Trevio on Sunday.

Amlin Challenge Cup

Paul Emerick was not in the lineup for London Wasps as they beat the Dragons 20-19 on Thursday.

British and Irish Cup

Eric Fry is on the bench for London Scottish and could make his first appearance for the club as they play Gala Saturday. Both teams have been eliminated from advancing to the quarterfinals.

Other

Robbie Shaw and Richmond play Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday.

Will Magie and Otley will play Luctonians on Saturday.

Jason Law and Oxford play the RAF next Wednesday.

Nate Brakeley and Cambridge have the weekend off after a frozen pitch cancelled their match against Durham.

Pierce Dargan, Shawn Pittman, and Trinity (Dublin University) have the weekend off. It has been confirmed to TIAR that Pittman is returning to Trinity.

Gearoid McDonald and Old Belvedere have the weekend off.

France:

Heineken Cup

Taku Ngwenya will start for Biarritz as they play Harlequins today.

Amlin Challenge Cup

Scott LaValla will start for Stade Francais as they play London Welsh on Saturday.

Pro D2

Roland Suniula will start for Auch as they play Aix-en-Provence on Saturday.

Inaki Basauri will start for Tarbes as they take on league leader Oyonnax on Saturday.

Seta Tuilevuka and Beziers play Dax on Saturday.

Federale 1

Mate Moeakiola and L’Uson play Oloron on Saturday.

Italy:

Serie A

Lou Stanfill and Vicenza play Padova on Sunday.

Japan:

Top League

Todd Clever will start for the NTT Shining Arcs as they play the NEC Green Rockets in the first round of the Top League wild-card playoffs. Win and Clever’s season continues, lose and it’s over.

Anthony Estrella and Toshiba Fuchu Brave Lupus play the Panasonic Sanyo Wildknights on Sunday in the Top League semi-finals.

Television:

Friday:
• Biarritz vs. Harlequins, 2:55 p.m. et/11:55 a.m. pt (live of Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday:
• Exeter vs. Leinster, 12:55 p.m. et/9:55 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Castres vs. Ulster, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Montpellier vs. Toulon, 7:00 p.m. et/4:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Sunday:
• Munster vs. Racing Metro, 11:30 a.m. et/8:30 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Leicester vs. Toulouse, 1:30 p.m. et/10:30 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)