34 named to train at Concepción High Performance Center

34 players have been named to train at Concepción’s High Performance Center. The new facility is part of a combined effort between the Chile Rugby Federation and Sudamérica Rugby. The facilities in Concepción are to be one of four rugby High Performance Centers nationwide.

The third largest Chilean urban area will provide the country with an unprecedented means of player preparation and production. The Asocación de Rugby de Concepción has confirmed 34 players. They are to train under the watch of Juan Cruz Freitas, Rafael del Río, and Rafael Ruiz.

Traditional clubs Los Troncos and Old Johns dominate the players. They are responsible for 33 of the 34 players. The one exception is Baltazar Gurruchaga who plays for Mineros. He has prior academy experience in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

The number is expected to rise to include junior players. The recent confirmation that the Concepción High Performance Center was ready noted that there would be 37 players.

CONCEPCIÓN HIGH PERFORMANCE ROSTER

Martín Acevedo (Old Johns), Alfonso Célis (Old Johns), Andrés Celis (Old Johns), Juan del Rio (Los Troncos), Joaquín Diban (Old Johns), Hermes Didier (Old Johns), Orlando Espinoza (Los Troncos), Cristóbal Game (Old Johns), Cristian Grant (Los Troncos), Baltazar Gurruchaga (Mineros), Iñaki Gurruchaga (Old Johns), Daniel Jamett (Los Troncos), Alfonso Lepe (Old Johns), Cristobal Mainguyague (Los Troncos), Lucas Marchini (Old Johns), Renzo Marchini (Old Johns), Felipe Méndez (Old Johns), Sebastián Montoya (Old Johns), Francisco Neira (Old Johns), Manuel Ortíz (Old Johns), Sebastián Otero (Los Troncos), Jean Reculé (Old Johns), Francisco Rodriguez (Los Troncos), Javier Rodríguez (Los Troncos), Ernesto Saelzer (Los Troncos), Tomás Sánchez (Old Johns), Axel Scheel (Old Johns), Lucas Sepúlveda (Los Troncos), Vicente Sichel (Los Troncos), Benjamín Soto Besamat (Old Johns), Eric Tap Hansen (Old Johns), Javier Valderrama (Old Johns), Marco Valenzuela (Old Johns), Claudio Zamorano (Los Troncos)