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Uruguay are preparing for eleven test matches in 2020, reports Ignacio Chans. These matches are to come in three windows – July Internationals, Americas Rugby Championship (ARC), and November Internationals.
The July Internationals replace June to be the new mid-year window for international competition. As has been the case in recent years, Los Teros will be involved in the World Rugby Nations Cup during this window. Montevideo will again be the host venue with three visiting teams joining the hosts. Spain are confirmed with Romania and Russia expected to be the other two.
As part of a ‘global’ Americas calendar, the ARC moves from February and March to August and September. In the 2020 ARC Uruguay will play at home against Brazil, Canada, and the USA and away to Chile and the Argentina XV.
The November Internationals will present Uruguay with a demanding, yet desired tour. Los Teros will face both Italy and Romania in away matches in addition to facing Samoa at a neutral location in Europe. Uruguay last faced Samoa at RWC 2003, while the match against Italy is to be Uruguay’s first Tier 1 opponent, aside from Argentina, in thirteen years.
Unlike prior years, Uruguay will go into international competition on the back of the competition of a professional season. The country’s first professional rugby team, Peñarol debut in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) in March. The majority of the test side will come from Peñarol with the remainder being selected from foreign leagues in North America an Europe.
