Argentina squad for Nations Cup

An experimental Argentina ‘A’ squad has been named for the upcoming World Rugby Nations Cup to be played in Bucharest, Romania this month. Formerly known as the Jaguars, the side will travel this time as an ‘Argentina XV’, playing in non-capped matches against the official test teams of Romania, Namibia and Spain.

Played over three rounds the Nations Cup will have match days on June 12, 17 and 21 in round robin format. For Argentina’s players the tournament is an opportunity at testing and developing depth, while for both Namibia and Romania it is vital preparation ahead of the World Cup. Spain have not qualified for that tournament but have the European Nations Cup to build towards in the new year.

Argentina’s fixture against Namibia will be a preview of sorts of the World Cup pool C match between the two countries. The teams will meet on the final day of pool play in Leicester. It is to be the third time the teams meet in four Rugby World Cups.

Selected for the tournament are fringe players, many of whom have been involved in recent international activity in the form of the CONSUR Cup or non-capped internationals against the USA Select XV and the Fiji Warriors.

FORWARDS
Santiago García Botta (Belgrano), Lucas Martínez (Lomas), Nicolás Mirande (Tucumán), Guido Randisi (Duendes), Roberto Tejerizo (T.L.T.), Tomás Baravalle (Jockey Rosario), Facundo Bosch (C.U.B.A.), Gerónimo Albertario (Pucará), Franco Baldoni (B.A.C.R.C.), Manuel Plaza (Jockey Salta), Martín Chiappesoni (Atlético del Rosario), Lucas Maguire (C.U.B.A.), Aníbal Panceyra Garrido (Tala), Gonzalo Paulín (Tala), Miguel Urtubey (Newman).

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos), Marcos Bollini (Newman), Cristian Nacassian (Tala), Juan León Novillo (Tucumán), Juan Ignacio Brex (San Cirano), Juan Cappiello (Pucará), Brian Ormson (Pucará), Joaquín Paz (Córdoba Athletic), Bautista Álvarez (Hindú), Tomás Carrió (Duendes), Augusto López (Tucumán), Franco Cuaranta (Tala).

COACHES: Felipe Contepomi and Ricardo Le Fort.

FIXTURES
June 12 v Namibia (11:00am Argentina)
June 17 v Spain (11:00am Argentina)
June 21 v Romania (2:00pm Argentina)