Argentina name 36-man Roster for Rugby Championship

Argentina has named a 36-man roster for the Rugby Championship. New Head Coach Mario Ledesma is to have his first day training the players as Los Pumas today at Club Newman in Buenos Aires.

For the time being the roster is exclusively made-up of Argentine-based players. This is soon to change with Ledesma having requested for Juan Figallo (Saracens), and Ramiro Herrera (Stade Français) to play in the Rugby Championship.

Details are being finalized as to when the English and French based players will be able to join Los Pumas. This may mean neither will be cleared to play in the opening round match of the tournament against South Africa in Durban.

Awaiting their arrival Ledesma is to begin preparations without both Figallo, and Herrera. This has opened-up opportunities for others. This has seen Argentina XV players from the recent Rugby Summer Cup included – Lucas Favre, Marco Ciccioli, and Mayco Vivas.

Additional players from the Rugby Summer Cup involved are Rodrigo Bruni, Diego Fortuny, Santiago Grondona, Juan Cruz Mallía, Franco Molina, and veteran Tomás Cubelli.

Both Grondona, and Vivas played for Argentina in the recent World Rugby u20 Championship in France. Rodrigo Bruni, Marco Ciccioli, Lucas Favre, Diego Fortuny, Ignacio Larrague, and Franco Molina are all included despite a lack of involvement in Super Rugby.

Additional new blood on the roster comes at fly half. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla is officially the second specialist fly half in the squad. He is behind Nicolás Sánchez and will be considered together with, outside back, Emiliano Boffelli for the position if required.

Missing from the roster is veteran No8 Leonardo Senatore and Jaguares flanker and vice-captain Tomás Lezana. The former has been overlooked by Ledesma while the latter is missing through injury.

FORWARDS
*Marco Ciccioli (CASI), *Lucas Favre (Lomas), Santiago García Botta (Belgrano / Jaguares), Santiago Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista / Jaguares), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (La Plata / Jaguares), *Mayco Vivas (Atlético del Rosario), *Juan Pablo Zeiss (Los Matreros), Agustín Creevy (San Luis / Jaguares), Diego Fortuny (Uni Salta / Jaguares), Julián Montoya (Newman / Jaguares), Matías Alemanno (La Tablada / Jaguares), *Ignacio Larrague (CASI), Tomás Lavanini (Hindú / Jaguares), *Franco Molina (Jockey Córdoba), Guido Petti (SIC / Jaguares), *Rodrigo Bruni (San Luis), *Santiago Grondona (Champagnat), Marcos Kremer (Atlético del Rosario / Jaguares), Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Santiago Lawn Tennis / Jaguares), Pablo Matera (Alumni / Jaguares), Javier Ortega Desio (Estudientes de Paraná / Jaguares)

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos / Jaguares), Tomás Cubelli (Belgrano / Jaguares), Martín Landajo (CASI / Jaguares), *Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (Hindú / Jaguares), Nicolás Sánchez (Tucumán Lawn Tennis / Jaguares), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Duendes / Jaguares), Bautista Ezcurra (Hindú / Jaguares), Santiago González Iglesias (Alumni / Jaguares), Matías Moroni (CUBA / Jaguares), Matías Orlando (Huirapuca / Jaguares), Sebastián Cancelliere (Hindú / Jaguares), Bautista Delguy (Pucará / Jaguares), Ramiro Moyano (Lince / Jaguares), Emiliano Boffelli (Duendes / Jaguares), Juan Cruz Mallía (Jockey Córdoba / Jaguares)

*Uncapped

ARGENTINA FIXTURES
August 18: vs South Africa, Durban
August 25: vs South Africa, Mendoza
September 8: vs New Zealand, Nelson
September 15: vs Australia, Gold Coast
September 29: vs New Zealand, Buenos Aires
October 6: vs Australia, Salta