A total of 130 players from the Americas traveled to Japan this past September to participate in the Rugby World Cup – six call-ups joined the initial 124 selected. Of the 130, all but five made at least one on-field appearance in the tournament. Those who did not include Argentina hooker Santiago Socino, USA prop Chance Wenglewski, and Canadian trio Dustin Dobravsky, Kainoa Lloyd, and Theo Sauder.
Transfers are always a significant part of the professional off-season, particularly among ‘Tier 2’ players in Europe who are often on short-term contracts. During a World Cup year this number can increase dramatically as clubs are unwilling to commit to paying wages for players who miss up to half of the club season with international commitments.
The introduction of the new Súper Liga in South America means that more than 40% of those at the World Cup have joined or will join a new team in 2020. Of those, 14 players remain unsigned following the tournament with that number is expected to drop in the near future.
| TEAM |
MOVED |
SIGNED |
UNSIGNED |
| Argentina |
5 |
1 |
0 |
| Canada |
8 |
1 |
6 |
| Uruguay |
4 |
13 |
5 |
| USA |
9 |
0 |
3 |
Below we take a team-by-team look at who moved where and how recent developments have influenced their professional status.
ARGENTINA
The Jaguares were the overwhelming provider of talent for Los Pumas at the tournament with the embargo on overseas selection contributing heavily to that. While that policy was softened somewhat in 2019, its effects were still clear and obvious as leading talents like Facundo Isa, Juan Imhoff, and Santiago Cordero were overlooked for those based locally.
Player movement post-Japan has comparatively minimal, largely due to that reliance on Super Rugby. Enrique Pieretto grew frustrated with the lack of opportunities and has moved to Exeter, with Ramiro Moyano joining Toulon after effectively being dropped at the World Cup.
Tomás Lavanini and captain Pablo Matera are both irreplaceable members of the pack and it will be interesting to see how their move to Europe affects selection. Juan Manuel Leguizamón has retired from Los Pumas and will play in Major League Rugby this coming season.
The only player attached to an amateur club prior to the tournament was inside center Lucas Mensa. He had been part of the Argentina XV development program. Most expected Mensa to play a significant role for the Jaguares in 2020 but he will instead line up for Ceibos in the Súper Liga.
| POS |
NAME |
PRE-RWC |
POST-RWC |
| LH |
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| LH |
Mayco Vivas |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| HO |
Agustín Creevy |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| HO |
Julián Montoya |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| HO |
Santiago Socino |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| TH |
Juan Figallo |
Saracens (UK) |
Saracens (UK) |
| TH |
Santiago Medrano |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| TH |
Enrique Pieretto |
Jaguares |
Exeter Chiefs (UK) |
| LO |
Matías Alemanno |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| LO |
Tomás Lavanini |
Jaguares |
Leicester Tigers (UK) |
| LO |
Guido Petti |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| FL/LO |
Marcos Kremer |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| FL |
Juan Manuel Leguizamón |
Jaguares |
Seattle Seawolves (US) |
| FL |
Tomás Lezana |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| FL |
Pablo Matera |
Jaguares |
Stade Français (FR) |
| N8 |
Rodrigo Bruni |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| N8 |
Javier Ortega Desio |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| SH |
Gonzalo Bertranou |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| SH |
Tomás Cubelli |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| SH |
Felipe Ezcurra |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| FH |
Nicolás Sánchez |
Stade Français (FR) |
Stade Français (FR) |
| FH |
Benjamín Urdapilleta |
Castres (FR) |
Castres (FR) |
| CE |
Jerónimo de la Fuente |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| CE |
Juan Cruz Mallía |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| CE |
Lucas Mensa |
Pucará |
Ceibos |
| CE |
Matías Orlando |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| WI |
Santiago Carreras |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| WI |
Bautista Delguy |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| WI/CE |
Matías Moroni |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| WI |
Ramiro Moyano |
Jaguares |
Toulon (FR) |
| FB |
Emiliano Boffelli |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
| FB |
Joaquín Tuculet |
Jaguares |
Jaguares |
CANADA
Players stationed in seven different countries turned out for Canada in Japan, the most of any of the Americas teams. The Toronto Arrows were the most significant provider of talent as Canada’s only professional team, with MLR contributing 18 of the 35 who traveled.
Two players – Hubert Buydens and Phil Mack – have now begun the transition to full-time coaching though neither have officially declared their retirements as players. Eight players have signed for new professional clubs, three of them returning from Europe to join MLR sides.
Canada selected four who were attached to amateur clubs prior to the tournament. Of those, one – Ben LeSage – has since turned professional. The other three – Dustin Dobravsky, Gordon McRorie, and Nick Blevins – do not appear headed towards professional deals.
Theo Sauder switched from the Arrows to the Canada Sevens program, while three others remain unsigned. Luke Campbell and Kainoa Lloyd are no longer with Toronto, with both presently attached to James Bay. Most notable is starting flyhalf Peter Nelson, formerly of Ulster but currently out of contract.
| POS |
NAME |
PRE-RWC |
POST-RWC |
| LH |
Hubert Buydens |
NOLA Gold |
Trinity Western (coach) |
| LH |
Djustice Sears-Duru |
Seattle Seawolves |
Seattle Seawolves |
| HO |
Eric Howard |
NOLA Gold |
NOLA Gold |
| HO |
Benoît Pifféro |
Blagnac (FR) |
Blagnac (FR) |
| HO |
Andrew Quattrin |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| TH |
Jake Ilnicki |
Seattle Seawolves |
Seattle Seawolves |
| TH |
Cole Keith |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| TH |
Matt Tierney |
Pau (FR) |
Castres (FR) |
| LO |
Kyle Baillie |
NOLA Gold |
NOLA Gold |
| LO |
Conor Keys |
Rotherham Titans (UK) |
Rugby ATL |
| LO |
Josh Larsen |
Austin Elite |
New England Free Jacks |
| LO |
Evan Olmstead |
Newcastle Falcons (UK) |
Biarritz (FR) |
| LO |
Mike Sheppard |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| FL |
Dustin Dobravsky |
Castaway Wanderers |
Castaway Wanderers |
| FL |
Matt Heaton |
Mowden Park (UK) |
Rugby ATL |
| FL |
Lucas Rumball |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| N8 |
Tyler Ardron |
Chiefs (NZ) |
Chiefs (NZ) |
| N8 |
Luke Campbell |
Toronto Arrows |
James Bay |
| SH |
Phil Mack |
Seattle Seawolves |
Seattle Seawolves (coach) |
| SH |
Jamie Mackenzie |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| SH |
Gordon McRorie |
Calgary Hornets |
Calgary Hornets |
| FH |
Peter Nelson |
Ulster (UK) |
|
| FH |
Shane O’Leary |
Nottingham (UK) |
Nottingham (UK) |
| CE |
Nick Blevins |
Calgary Hornets |
Calgary Hornets |
| CE |
Guiseppe du Toit |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| CE |
Ciaran Hearn |
London Irish (UK) |
Old Glory DC |
| CE |
Ben LeSage |
UBC Thunderbirds |
Toronto Arrows |
| CE |
Conor Trainor |
Nevers (FR) |
Nevers (FR) |
| WI |
Jeff Hassler |
Seattle Seawolves |
Seattle Seawolves |
| WI |
Kainoa Lloyd |
Toronto Arrows |
James Bay |
| WI |
Taylor Paris |
Castres (FR) |
Castres (FR) |
| WI |
DTH van der Merwe |
Glasgow Warriors (UK) |
Glasgow Warriors (UK) |
| FB |
Andrew Coe |
Canada Sevens |
Canada Sevens |
| FB |
Patrick Parfrey |
Toronto Arrows |
Toronto Arrows |
| FB |
Theo Sauder |
Toronto Arrows |
Canada Sevens |
URUGUAY
The success of Los Teros at the World Cup can be attributed to both the increased number of professionals abroad and their own centralized training contracts for players based locally. MLR helped prepare 10 players with another four coming from Europe.
By far the most significant change for 2020 is the creation of the Súper Liga. There are now 15 of the side signed up with Montevideo’s new team Peñarol, 11 of those signed from amateur clubs. Seven remain in MLR with one new to the North American league – Arrows addition Manuel Diana.
Germán Kessler is the biggest individual success story having signed for Pro D2 club Charente, though Santiago Arata will soon join him in Europe with a move to Castres on the cards at the end of his Súper Liga campaign with Peñarol.
Of the handful currently unsigned, Franco Lamanna is to sign with an unnamed Italian club in the coming weeks. The others have opted out of professional rugby for the moment. Facundo Gattas will continue to work and study in Buenos Aires, while Juan Pedro Rombys, Juan Diego Ormaechea, and World Cup skipper Juan Manuel Gaminara have chosen to focus on their careers outside of rugby though they remain available for international duty if needed.
| POS |
NAME |
PRE-RWC |
POST-RWC |
| LH/TH |
Juan Echeverría |
Austin Elite (US) |
Austin Herd (US) |
| LH |
Joaquín Jaunsolo |
Los Cuervos |
Peñarol |
| LH |
Mateo Sanguinetti |
Houston SaberCats (US) |
Peñarol |
| HO/LH |
Facundo Gattas |
Hindú (AR) |
Hindú (AR) |
| HO |
Germán Kessler |
Los Cuervos |
Charente (FR) |
| HO |
Guillermo Pujadas |
Champagnat |
Peñarol |
| TH |
Diego Arbelo |
MVCC |
Peñarol |
| TH |
Juan Pedro Rombys |
Trébol |
Trébol |
| LO |
Ignacio Dotti |
NOLA Gold (US) |
NOLA Gold (US) |
| LO |
Franco Lamanna |
Mowden Park (UK) |
|
| LO |
Manuel Leindekar |
Oyonnax (FR) |
Oyonnax (FR) |
| LO |
Diego Magno |
Houston SaberCats (US) |
Houston SaberCats (US) |
| FL |
Manuel Ardao |
Old Christians |
Peñarol |
| FL |
Santiago Civetta |
Old Boys |
Peñarol |
| FL |
Juan Manuel Gaminara |
Old Boys |
Old Boys |
| FL |
Juan Diego Ormaechea |
Carrasco Polo |
Carrasco Polo |
| N8 |
Manuel Diana |
Old Christians |
Toronto Arrows (CA) |
| N8 |
Alejandro Nieto |
Houston SaberCats (US) |
Peñarol |
| SH |
Santiago Arata |
Houston SaberCats (US) |
Peñarol |
| SH |
Agustín Ormaechea |
Mont-de-Marsan (FR) |
Mont-de-Marsan (FR) |
| FH |
Felipe Berchesi |
Dax (FR) |
Dax (FR) |
| FH |
Felipe Etcheverry |
Carrasco Polo |
Peñarol |
| CE |
Juan Manuel Cat |
Old Boys |
Peñarol |
| CE |
Agustín Della Corte |
Trébol |
Peñarol |
| CE |
Tomás Inciarte |
Old Christians |
Peñarol |
| CE |
Andrés Vilaseca |
Austin Elite (US) |
Peñarol |
| WI |
Federico Favaro |
Old Christians |
Peñarol |
| WI |
Nicolás Freitas |
Carrasco Polo |
Peñarol |
| WI |
Leandro Leivas |
Toronto Arrows (CA) |
Toronto Arrows (CA) |
| FB |
Gastón Mieres |
Toronto Arrows (CA) |
Toronto Arrows (CA) |
| FB |
Rodrigo Silva |
Austin Elite (US) |
Austin Herd (US) |
USA
The Eagles were able to name a fully professional squad for the first team ever at the tournament, though there might be an asterisk beside James Hilterbrand who plays in the semi-pro Shute Shield. Two resident sevens players bolstered the 14-strong MLR contingent with the rest based abroad.
Shaun Davies has confirmed his retirement and is now a coach at Utah. His Raptors halfback mate Will Magie signed for London Scottish. John Quill has said goodbye to the Eagles and appears to be leaving professional rugby entirely with no contract currently signed.
Malon Al-Jiboori has left the Raptors and returned to Chula Vista to press for a spot at the Olympics. Mike Te’o has also joined the sevens residency program though he will suit up for the San Diego Legion in MLR when available.
Two notables, however, have yet to reveal their destination. Ben Landry may be eyeing a spot as a medical joker in Europe, while Blaine Scully has returned stateside but has not publicly committed to an MLR club or the sevens program.
| POS |
NAME |
PRE-RWC |
POST-RWC |
| LH |
David Ainu’u |
Toulouse (FR) |
Toulouse (FR) |
| LH |
Eric Fry |
Vannes (FR) |
Vannes (FR) |
| LH |
Olive Kilifi |
Seattle Seawolves |
Seattle Seawolves |
| LH |
Change Wenglewski |
Rugby United New York |
Rugby ATL |
| HO |
Dylan Fawsitt |
Rugby United New York |
Rugby United New York |
| HO |
James Hilterbrand |
Manly Marlins (AU) |
Manly Marlins (AU) |
| HO |
Joe Taufete’e |
Worcester Warriors (UK) |
Worcester Warriors (UK) |
| TH |
Titi Lamositele |
Saracens (UK) |
Saracens (UK) |
| TH |
Paul Mullen |
Houston SaberCats |
San Diego Legion |
| LO |
Nate Brakeley |
Rugby United New York |
Rugby United New York |
| LO |
Nick Civetta |
Doncaster Knights (UK) |
Vannes (FR) |
| LO |
Ben Landry |
Ealing Trailfinders (UK) |
|
| LO |
Greg Peterson |
Bordeaux Begles (FR) |
Newcastle Falcons (UK) |
| FL |
Malon Al-Jiboori |
Glendale Raptors |
USA Sevens |
| FL |
Hanco Germishuys |
Glendale Raptors |
Colorado Raptors |
| FL |
Tony Lamborn |
Melbourne Rebels (AU) |
Blues (NZ) |
| FL |
Ben Pinkelman |
USA Sevens |
USA Sevens |
| FL |
John Quill |
Rugby United New York |
|
| N8 |
Cam Dolan |
NOLA Gold |
NOLA Gold |
| SH |
Nate Augspurger |
San Diego Legion |
San Diego Legion |
| SH |
Shaun Davies |
Glendale Raptors |
Utah Warriors (coach) |
| SH |
Ruben de Haas |
Free State Cheetahs (SA) |
Free State Cheetahs (SA) |
| FH |
AJ MacGinty |
Sale Sharks (UK) |
Sale Sharks (UK) |
| FH |
Will Magie |
Glendale Raptors |
London Scottish (UK) |
| CE |
Bryce Campbell |
London Irish (UK) |
London Irish (UK) |
| CE |
Paul Lasike |
Harlequins (UK) |
Harlequins (UK) |
| CE |
Thretton Palamo |
Houston SaberCats |
Old Glory DC |
| WI/CE |
Marcel Brache |
Western Force (AU) |
Western Force (AU) |
| WI |
Martin Iosefo |
USA Sevens |
USA Sevens |
| WI |
Blaine Scully |
Cardiff Blues (UK) |
|
| FB |
Will Hooley |
Bedford Blues (UK) |
Bedford Blues (UK) |
| FB |
Mike Te’o |
San Diego Legion |
San Diego Legion |
PRO vs AMATEUR
An unprecedented number of Americas players were professional heading into the tournament – 83% of those selected for Japan. That number is now higher and it’s likely that 2020 will see close to 100% of those playing for the four World Cup countries coming from professional outfits. Canada was already in a position to do so prior to RWC 2019 while the majority of Uruguay’s selections this coming year will come from Peñarol, MLR, and Europe.
If the MLR and SLAR both progress as planned, it is reasonable to assume that amateurs playing international rugby for those four leading sides will become a rarity in this World Cup cycle. Even Americas Rugby Championship members Chile and Brazil will be largely comprised of professionals both domestic and abroad.
| SIGNED |
108 |
115 |
| Argentina |
31 |
32 |
| Canada |
31 |
28 |
| Uruguay |
14 |
26 |
| USA |
32 |
29 |
| UNSIGNED |
22 |
14 |
| Argentina |
1 |
0 |
| Canada |
4 |
6 |
| Uruguay |
17 |
5 |
| USA |
0 |
3 |
DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN
The shift from overseas professionals to those based domestically was well and truly accelerated over the past four years. Of the 108 professionals at RWC 2019, 73 were based in the Americas. There are now 115 of them signed with 81 spread between MLR, the Jaguares, SLAR, and the World Sevens Series.
| DIVISION |
PRE-RWC |
POST-RWC |
| Major League Rugby |
42 |
37 |
| Super Rugby |
30 |
25 |
| English Premiership |
6 |
8 |
| English Championship |
6 |
4 |
| Top 14 |
6 |
7 |
| Pro D2 |
4 |
7 |
| Guinness Pro 14 |
4 |
2 |
| World Sevens |
3 |
5 |
| National One |
3 |
0 |
| Fédérale 1 |
2 |
2 |
| Global Rapid Rugby |
1 |
1 |
| Shute Shield |
1 |
1 |
| Súper Liga |
– |
16 |
*Mike Te’o considered part of MLR for the above
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