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Brazil have confirmed the names of nine internationals that will travel north to participate in a Major League Rugby combine that will take place at Infinity Park beginning on October 21. Also taking part in the tournament will be players from Canada, Chile, and Uruguay. The combine will culminate in a trial match on October 27 between a ‘Rugby Americas XV’ and the Glendale Raptors.
The development comes as part of an agreement between the Brazilian Rugby Union (CBRu) and MLR that will see all travel costs to the combine covered by the league. It’s an initiative intended to aid the Brazilian players as they prepare for the introduction of a South American professional competition in 2020, and also to raise the standards of MLR while increasing the visibility of the league in key South American markets.
Five forwards and four backs will represent Brazil with the intention of winning MLR contracts. Captain and hooker Yan Rosetti is joined by loosehead prop Lucas Abud and versatile front rower Wilton Rebolo. Blindside flanker Cléber Dias will make the trip, as will openside flanker Arthur Bergo.
The four backs named are all consistently among the best at their positions in the Americas Rugby Championship. New Zealand-born flyhalf Josh Reeves is an accomplished left-footed goal kicker while inside centre Moisés Duque has broken hearts on both sides of the 49th parallel with his right boot.
Perhaps the most coveted athletes of the group are twin brothers Felipe and Daniel Sancery. Since leaving French Pro D2 club Albi in early 2016 they have been automatic selections for the Tupis with Felipe excelling as an outside centre and Daniel arguably the top attacking fullback in the ARC. Duque, Bergo, and the Sancery twins were part of Brazil’s team at the 2016 Olympics.
Os Tupis have defeated both Canada and the USA since joining the ARC in 2016. This past year they achieved new firsts with victories over the Argentina XV, the Georgia XV, and winning their first ever South American title in the revamped Sudamericano 6 Naciones ‘A’.
