Chile are ”excited about the opportunity” of Spain

Los Condores Head Coach Paul Healy has selected a 26-man roster for the upcoming international matches in Spain. The South Americans will play against the Basque Country on Tuesday November 17 and an official test match against Spain on Saturday November 21.

Included for the tour are French based players Francisco de La Fuente, Leonardo Montoya and Simón Pardakhty. Spanish based Matías Cabrera is also included as is Sergio de La Fuente who plays in New Zealand.

This represents the minority of Chilean players based in France. Healy’s roster reflects this with a lack of experience being reflected throughout the roster. Scrum half Juan Pablo Perrota is the most capped player with just 21 appearances.

So many inexperienced players on the roster is partly due to Healy looking to the future but also a reflection of the lack of test rugby Chile plays. In a typical year Chile plays three matches against South American opposition and in a good year will play one more.

The frustrations are set to end with Chile joining the Americas Rugby Cup. Starting in February 2016 the Six Nations competition will see Chile facing all of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay and the USA. A tough set of opponents is set to provide Los Condores with a unique opportunity and the tour of Spain will serve as preparation.

Healy told Americas Rugby News ”We are traveling to Spain and are excited about the opportunity and challenge that lies ahead of us. We will start with a difficult game against the Basque Selection.”

While not being a capped international this need not mean an easy assignment and Healy insists that Chile will take the match very seriously. ”They have some very good players who are 5 or 6 games in to the division de honor season. Some of these players, I am familiar with from my time in Ordizia”.

“They performed better than expected against Uruguay before the RWC and this gives us a match against a strong opposition and the opportunity as a group to practice, revise and put into place our structures that worked for us in the recent South American Championship in May,  and also for players to familiarise themselves with the conditions in Spain after a long travel schedule and with each other as teammates”.