Mieres Joins Elite List of Uruguayans with 50 Caps

Gastón Mieres is to join an elite list of Uruguayans with 50 test caps. The 28-year-old has been playing for Los Teros since 2010. His road to 50 caps includes playing in two Rugby World Cup qualifying campaigns, successfully helping Uruguay seal their spot in England 2015.

Mieres debuted again Brazil in 2010. He did so as a replacement and scored a try. In his second appearance he started on the wing against Paraguay. During his career he has played wing, fullback and center for Los Teros.

In total he has made 44 starts in his 49 caps thus far. He has scored 11 test tries and has been a permanent feature in the team when available. He started all four Rugby World Cup 2015 matches from fullback. His most recent cap was on the wing against Russia in this year’s Nations Cup.

Against Namibia he is to become Uruguay’s 11th player to reach the 50 cap mark. Ahead of him are eleven players, five of whom remain active. The most capped Uruguayan in history is Diego Magno with 75 caps. Fellow Rugby World Cup 2015 players Mario Sagario, Carlos Arboleya, Alejandro Nieto and Leandro Leivas are, like Magno and Mieres, also still active.

Of the players to have surpassed 50 caps former captain and Head Coach Diego Ormaechea is perhaps the most remarkable. His 57 test caps were spread over 21 years. He earned caps in three different decades and his final cap was in a Rugby World Cup match. His son, Agustín Ormaechea presently has 34 caps.