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Uruguay has confirmed a 26-man roster for the November Internationals. Uruguay are to play four matches in Europe, playing against two club sides in addition to two test matches.
The URU have put together the tour with an eye to RWC 2019. Uruguay will play their first and second pool matches against Fiji and Georgia with just three rest days in between. Their matches next month against the Cardiff Blues and Ulster are to take place on November 6 and 9.
Uruguay will remain in the UK for their third match but do so in England. It is to be a test match against Fiji on November 17. From there Uruguay will travel to Eastern Europe to face Romania.
The challenging tour is to be a means of additional preparations on the road to RWC 2019. It is to be followed by the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) in February and March. Players involved in both France and Major League Rugby (MLR) are not expected to feature.
Head Coach Esteban Meneses has named the uncapped Manuel Ardao in the roster. A star flanker for Uruguay at u20 level, Meneses is now looking to experiment with him at hooker.
The roster otherwise contains established players. Included from France is fly half Felipe Berchesi (Dax), and second-rower Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax). They join recent MLR signings Santiago Arata (Houston SaberCats), Ignacio Dotti (NOLA Gold), Juan Echeverría (Austin Elite), Andrés Vilaseca (Austin Elite) as the contracted overseas contingent for the tour.
Missing from the roster are European-based players Rodrigo Capó Ortega (Castres, FR), Agustín Ormeachea (Mont-de-Marsan, FR), and injured Franco Lamanna (Perugia, IT). Of the home based players tight head Mario Sagario (Carrasco Polo) is the notable absentee.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Matías Benítez (Champagnat), Juan Echeverría (Old Christians / Austin Elite, US), Juan Rombys (Trebol), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos), Manuel Ardao (Old Christians), Facundo Gattas (Hindú, AR), German Kessler (Los Cuervos), Ignacio Dotti (Los Cuervos / New Orleans Gold, US), Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR), Diego Magno (MVCC), Manuel Diana (Old Christians), Juan Manuel Gaminara (Old Boys), Alejandro Nieto (Champagnat), Juan Diego Ormaechea (Carrasco Polo), Leandro Segredo (Old Christians)
BACKS
Santiago Arata (Old Christians / Houston SaberCats, US), Tomás Inciarte (Old Christians), Felipe Berchesi (Dax, FR), Juan Manuel Cat (Old Boys), Agustín Della Corte (Trebol), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Andrés Vilaseca (Old Boys / Austin Elite, US), Federico Favaro (Old Christians), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians), Gastón Mieres (Lobos), Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo)
FIXTURES
November 6 – vs Cardiff Blues
November 9 – vs Ulster
November 17 – vs Fiji
November 24 – vs Romania
