Super Rugby Players Feature in Argentina XV Roster

The Argentina XV coaching Staff have named a strong roster for the Americas Pacific Challenge. Diego Ternavasio and Maximiliano Bustos have gone for both youth and experience in naming their squad with 15 of the 26 players selected having appeared in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship.

Super Rugby players have made the roster. Rodrigo Báez, Tomás Lezana, and Juan Cruz Guillemaín are notable players included in the forwards. They are to be joined by former Bayonne loose forward Benjamín Macome and up-and-coming second row Ignacio Larrague to give the Argentina XV a formidable back five forwards.

Also included are a number of athletes from Los Pumas 7s, including Segundo Tuculet and two Olympians in Fernando Luna and Santiago Álvarez. Their selection is part of the process of taking them towards the required level of Los Pumas.

Late withdrawals from the squad are prop Felipe Arregui, who has joined up with the Pumas for their Rugby Championship match against Australia at Twickenham, and midfielder Bruno Devoto. Two graduates of this year’s Pumitas u20 squad have been called as replacements – hooker Gaspar Baldunciel and winger Julián Domínguez.

Argentina start their tournament against Canada on Saturday, October 8 before taking on the hosts Uruguay on Wednesday, October 12. A match that will likely decide the winners of the competition comes last against the imposing Fiji Warriors.

FORWARDS
Cristian Bartoloni (Pucará / Jaguares), Facundo Gigena (Tala / Jaguares), Santiago Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista), Nicolás Solveyra (CUBA), Gaspar Baldunciel (Alumni), Facundo Bosch (CUBA / Jaguares), Axel Zapata (SITAS), Juan Cruz Guillemaín (Jockey San Juan / Jaguares), Ignacio Larrague (CASI / Jaguares), Pedro Ortega (Universitario), Rodrigo Báez (Liceo Naval / Jaguares), Tomás Lezana (Santiago Lawn Tennis / Jaguares), Benjamín Macome (Tucumán RC), Nicolás Menendez (Lomas Athletic), Santiago Montagner (Alumni)

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos / Jaguares), Felipe Ezcurra (Hindú / Jaguares), Juan Cruz González (CUBA), Domingo Miotti (Tucumán Lawn Tennis), Santiago Álvarez (CASI), Gabriel Ascárate (Natación y Gimnasia / Jaguares), Juan Cappiello (Pucará), Julián Domínguez (Pucará), Segundo Tuculet (Los Tilos / Jaguares), Bautista Delguy (Pucará), Fernando Luna (Córdoba Athletic)

FIXTURES (all times local Montevideo)
Oct 8 – 12:00 – vs Canada ‘A’
Oct 12 – 16:30 – vs Uruguay ‘A’
Oct 16 – 16:30 – vs Fiji Warriors