30 named in Argentina XV squad

A squad of 30 players has been named by the UAR to prepare for the upcoming Sudamérica Rugby Cup and World Rugby Nations Cup competitions. The coaching triumvirate of Felipe Contepomi, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, and Diego Ternavasio will oversee a three-day training camp beginning tomorrow with a second planned beginning on May 9 ending with a friendly match against the Pumitas.

Following the disappointment of losing the Americas Rugby Championship title on bonus points to the USA, the team is nonetheless based heavily on the group that took part with only three players named having not appeared in that tournament. Newman second row Jerónimo Ureta earns his first national selection and is joined in the forwards by CASI flanker Benito Paolucci, the latter of whom captained the Pumitas to a best-ever 3rd place finish at the 2016 World Rugby u20 Championship.

Emerging halfback duo Sebastian Cancelliere and Domingo Miotti, two of the top players in the ARC, headline the back division that includes three members of the Olympic 7s squad in Santiago Álvarez, Fernando Luna, and Germán Schulz. The only new name in the backs is another standout from the 2016 Pumitas side, Martín Elías. Highly rated as a flyhalf, the Atlético del Rosario prospect has been named as a fullback in the training group.

FORWARDS
Franco Brarda (Tala), Francisco Ferronato (Belgrano), Gaspar Baldunciel (Alumni), Marcelo Brandi (Newman), Eduardo Bello (Atlético del Rosario), Santiago Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista), Juan Cruz Guillemaín (Jockey San Juan), Pedro Ortega (Universitario), Jerónimo Ureta (Newman), Lautaro Bavaro (Hindú), Tomás de la Vega (CUBA), Francisco Gorrissen (Belgrano), Benito Paolucci (CASI), Mariano Romanini (Alumni), Rodrigo Bruni (San Luis), Santiago Montagner (Alumni)

BACKS
Lautaro Bazán (Córdoba Athletic), Sebastián Cancelliere (Hindú), Juan Cruz González (CUBA), Domingo Miotti (Tucumán Lawn Tennis), Santiago Álvarez (CASI), Juan Cappiello (Pucará), Bruno Devoto (CASI), Tomás Granella (Liceo Cuyo), Segundo Tuculet (Los Tilos), Franco Cuaranta (Tala), Julian Domínguez (Pucará), Germán Shulz (Tala), Martín Elías (Atlético del Rosario), Fernando Luna (Córdoba Athletic)