Spain name squad for South America tour

Spain have named a squad of 26 players to travel on their tour of South American next month. The Leones will play against Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay on successive weekends beginning on June 8.

Loosehead prop Fernando López is the most experienced man in the squad with 39 test caps, with outside center Ignacio Contardi next at 28 caps. At the other end of the spectrum, 16 of the squad have 6 or less caps with two of those yet to debut – tighthead prop Mattius Pisapia and midfielder Daniel Barranco.

There is a largely comprised of domestic players with only four based outside of the country, all backs. None of Spain’s France-based forwards will travel. Head coach Santiago Santos has included four players of Argentina origin – captain López, flanker Juan Pablo Guido, England-based flyhalf Emiliano Calle Rivas, and Contardi, the latter a native of Mar del Plata.

The Leones are currently ranked 19th in the world, three behind Uruguay but ahead of Brazil (24) and Chile (29). This will be just the second time Spain have played Brazil, the first in 2017.

FORWARDS
Alberto Blanco (VRAC), Thierry Feuteu (Alcobendas), Fernando López (Ordizia), Mattius Pisapia (Aparejadores), Steve Barnes (VRAC), Vicente Del Hoyo (El Salvador), Ien Ascroft-Leigh (Aparejadores), Manuel Mora (Independiente), Mike Walker-Fitton (El Salvador), Oier Goia (Ordizia), Juan Pablo Guido (Aparejadores), Michael Hogg (Barcelona), Victor Sánchez (El Salvador), Afa Tauli (UE Santboiana)

BACKS
Facundo Munilla (Alcobendas), Tomás Munilla (Béziers, FR), Emiliano Calle Rivas (Sale FC, UK), David Mélé (Perpignan, FR), Álvar Gimeno (VRAC), Daniel Barranco (Sant Cugat), Ignacio Contardi (Independiente), Federico Casteglioni (VRAC), Guillermo Domínguez (Cisneros), Julen Goia (Ordizia), Jordi Jorba (Perpignan, FR), Richard Stewart (Cisneros)

FIXTURES
June 8 vs Brazil (Sao Paulo)
June 15 vs Chile (Curicó)
June 22 vs Uruguay (Montevideo)