Uruguay name squad to face Paraguay in Asunción

Los Teros’ Head Coach Esteban Meneses has named a match day squad of 23 to travel to Asunción to face Paraguay at the Estadio Héroes de Curupaytí on Saturday. The match marks the beginning of the 2017 South American ‘A’ Championship, and also doubles as a qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

A strong group includes two overseas players who have joined up with the squad. Second row Manuel Leindekar, at 2.01m (6’7″) Uruguay’s tallest player, arrives from Oyonnax Academy in France, while flanker Franco Lamanna has returned from Italy. Back row Santiago Hernández earns a recall after missing out on the Americas Rugby Championship with national sevens duties. With regular skipper Juan Manuel Gaminara left out, the leadership role should fall on veteran No 8 Alejandro Nieto.

The backs were all part of the ARC group and include highly promising scrumhalf Santiago Arata and top goal kicker Germán Albanell. Jaguares signing Nicolás Freitas, yet to make his Super Rugby debut, is also included. Absent are World Cup halfback duo Agustín Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi, both of whom are yet to arrive from their professional clubs in France.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 3:30pm local time. The team is due to arrive in Paraguay on Thursday.

FORWARDS
Matías Benítez (Champagnat), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos), Martín Espiga (Old Christians), Facundo Gattas (Lobos), Juan Echeverría (Old Christians), Mario Sagario (Carrasco Polo), Ignacio Dotti (Los Cuervos), Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR), Diego Magno (MVCC), Santiago Hernández (Carrasco Polo), Franco Lamanna (Pro Recco, IT), Alejandro Nieto (Champagnat), Gonzalo Soto (Carrasco Polo)

BACKS
Santiago Arata (Old Christians), Guillermo Lijtenstein (Trébol), Germán Albanell (Old Boys), Lucas Duran (Trébol), Juan Manuel Cat (Old Boys), Nicolás Freitas (Carrasco Polo), Andrés Vilaseca (Old Boys), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians), Gastón Mieres (Lobos), Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo)