Brazil name extended squad for ARC

Rodolfo Ambrosio has named eight uncapped players in a squad of 37 to prepare for the Americas Rugby Championship. Otherwise the Tupis have collected their strongest possible side for the tournament with six players currently based abroad.

Josh Reeves is the only Brazil international in Major League Rugby and he answers the call at flyhalf. New cap Gustavo Pompeo will act as an understudy who plays his club rugby in Uruguay for Montevideo Cricket. 21-year-old midfielder Lorenzo Massari is Brazilian-born but raised in Italy and a graduate of their national under-18 academy program. He arrives from Parabiago in the Italian Serie ‘A’.

In the forwards there are two second rows from Europe. Another based in Italy is Matteo Dell’Acqua, who made his Brazil debut against the Maori in November but remains uncapped. France-based Luiz Vieira is also included while Alexandre Alves returns from a stint in Australia with Shute Shield club Warringah. ‘Texugo’ is capped at loosehead prop, lock, and eightman.

Regular skipper Yan Rosetti is named but remains sidelined with injury and may not recover in time to play a part in the tourney. Felipe Sancery will continue in the captaincy role and there are four hookers named as cover, including three newcomers – 21-year-olds Daniel Müller and Brendon Alves, and Super 16 All-Star select Walter Tenório.

There is a notable inclusion for 20-year-old lock Kauã Guimarães who is the tallest man in the squad at but also a notable absentee in flanker Devon Müller. The South Africa native played three non-cap games for Brazil in November but is still short of his residency requirements for test rugby. Curitiba center Thiago Evaristo was on the tour to Argentina and now has a chance to make his senior Tupis debut.

The Duque brothers – Lucas and Moises – are set to reach milestones during the competition. Both are currently on 48 caps. Lucas begins his final ARC with the scrumhalf set to retire at the end of the season. He will celebrate his 35th birthday just days after the tournament finale against Uruguay.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Lucas Abud (Poli), Alexandre Alves (Warringah, AU), Michel Gomes (São José), Wilton Rebolo (Bandeirantes), Matheus Rocha (Jacareí), Caíque Silva (São José), Jardel Vettorato (Farrapos), Brendon Alves (Pasteur), David Müller (Belo Horizonte), Yan Rosetti (unattached), Walter Tenório (Poli), Endy Willian (Curitiba), Matteo Dell’Acqua (Reggio, IT), Kauã Guimerães (Templários), Gabriel Paganini (Bandeirantes), Lucas Piero (Desterro), Luiz Vieira (Tyrosse, FR), André Arruda (Desterro), Arthur Bergo (SPAC), Matheus Claudio (Jacareí), Cléber Dias (Poli), Michael Moraes (Curitiba)

BACKS
Lucas Duque (São José), Daniel Lima (Poli), Douglas Rauth (Curitiba), Gustavo Pompeo (MVCC, UR), Josh Reeves (Utah Warriors, US), Moisés Duque (São José), Thiago Evaristo (Curitiba), Lorenzo Massari (Parabiago, IT), Felipe Sancery (São José), Stefano Giantorno (São José), Ariel Rodrigues (Jacareí), Robert Tenório (Pasteur), De Wet van Niekerk (Poli), Felipe Sancery (São José), Lucas Tranquez (Poli)