Argentina’s European-Based Legion

A query that pops up with regularity is who are Argentina’s European-Based legion? For some it is an interest in identifying (a) which players based abroad could make the RWC Roster while for others it (b) is seeking an answer as to who all the players are.

This article will provide an answer to (b) but do so by selectively identifying players depending on the league. There are names playing in Europe who will not be listed based on the competition that they play in, Romanian based Roberto Tejerizo being a case in point.

Those listed play their rugby in the elite leagues of the Top 14, English Premiership, or Pro 14; or the second divisions of the Pro D2 and RFU Championship. Lower divisions in both France, and England have been purposely left out as have leagues elsewhere such as Italy, Romania, and Spain.

Players who currently play in Europe outside of these league but may earn a contract at the elite level are also not included. In Italy, for instance, Brian Ormson has had a highly impressive season for Viadana and a Pro 14 contract with either Benetton or Zebre would not be a surprise. This is a reflection of the league being comparable more to the Fédérale 1 than the Pro D2.

Argentina’s European-Based legion, or simply ‘exiles’ are all Argentine eligible players. Not included are those to have been capped by a rival country. This explains the exclusion of Leandro Cedaro, Federico Castiglioni, Sergio Parisse, and Emiliano Calle Rivas from the list.

To view the current clubs of Argentina’s representative players, and wider roster options, click here.

The official Jaguares website lists 44 players as being on the 2019 roster. It is a wider roster featuring players who are yet to play a match of Super Rugby. To view the squad in completion click here.

So who are all of Argentina’s European-Based Legion? There are 43 players at present. This number excludes Jaguares players who have signed to play after the World Cup in Europe. Players of this category are Santiago García Botta, Tomás Lavanini, Martín Landajo, and Pablo Matera. This list is expected to grow further.

 

FRANCE – TOP 14 (11)

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB
Ignacio Calles	LH	Pau
Facundo Bosch	HK	Agen (to La Rochelle)
Francisco Goméz Kodela	TH	Lyon
Ramiro Herrera	TH	Stade Français
Mariano Galarza	LO	Bordeaux (to Bayonne)
Facundo Isa	N8	Toulon
Matías Salvatierra	SH	Stade Français
Patricio Fernández	FH	Clermont (to Lyon)
Nicolás Sánchez	FH	Stade Français
Benjamín Urdapilleta	FH	Castres
Juan Imhoff	WI	Racing 92

FRANCE – PRO D2 (16)

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB
Carlos Muzzio	LH	Mont de Marsan
Agustín Costa Repetto	HO	Colomiers
Leandro Mario Assi	TH	Aix en Provence
Victor Arias	TH	Bourg en Bresse
Cristian Bartolini	TH	Charente
Jerónimo Negrotto	TH	Mont de Marsan
Facundo Pomponio	TH	Vannes
Joel Sclavi	TH	Charante
Javier Lagioiosa	LO	Vannes
Demian Panizzo	LO	Carcassonne
Martín Chiappessoni	FL	Colomiers
Bernardo Reggiardo	SH	Aurillac
Sebastián Poet	FH	Colomiers
Lucas Caneda	WI	Charente
Axel Muller	WI	Brive
Martín Bustos Moyano	FB	Bayonne

ENGLAND – PREMIERSHIP (7)

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB
Facundo Gigena	LH	Leicester Tigers
Lucas Noguera Paz	LH	Bath
Santiago Socino	HK	Newcastle Falcons
Gastón Córtes	TH	Leicester Tigers
Juan Figallo	TH	Saracens
Marcelo Bosch	CE	Saracens
Santiago Cordero	WI	Exeter Chiefs (to Bordeaux)

ENGLAND – RFU CHAMPIONSHIP (2)

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB
Javier Rojas	CE	Cornish Pirates
Segundo Tuculet	CE	Ealing Trailfinders

PRO 14 (7)

PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB
Tomás Baravalle	HK	Benetton (IT)
Eduardo Bello	TH	Zebre (IT)
Marco Ciccioli	TH	Zebre (IT)
Guido Volpi	FL	Ospreys (UK)
Juan Ignacio Brex	CE	Benetton (IT)
Nicolás de Battista	CE	Zebre (IT) (to Cornish Pirates)
Juan Pablo Socino	CE	Edinburgh (UK)