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Spain coach Santiago Santos has confirmed a 30-man traveling roster for the upcoming tour to Uruguay. Los Leones will play Los Teros in Montevideo on November 1 and November 6. The team will depart for South America on Wednesday.
Included are seven players of Argentine origin. Former CUBA and Agen flyhalf Bautista Güemes is the most notable, the 30-year-old recently qualifying on three-year residency. The others are props Andrés Álvarado, Joaquín Domínguez and Leandro Wozniak, flanker Juan Pablo Guido, and outside backs Ignacio Contardi and Baltazar Taibo.
Álvarado, Wozniak, and Güemes are among seven uncapped players named. Toulouse academy prop Joël Merkler is called to the senior team for the first time, as are Pozuelo center Diego Periel and Barcelona wing or fullback Pablo Ortiz. Clubmate Daniel Barranco has previously trained with the side but is yet to make his test debut.
A number of leading France-based players were not available for the tour such as tighthead prop Jon Zabala, second row Lucas Guillaume, and midfielder Álvar Gimeno. Former Perpignan and Leicester halfback David Mélé is included despite retiring from professional rugby in 2019.
FORWARDS
Bittor Aboitiz (Stade Rodez, FR), Andrés Álvarado (El Salvador), José Diaz (VRAC), Joaquín Domínguez (Floirac, FR), Joël Merkler (Toulouse, FR), Leandro Wozniak (Aparejadores), Steve Barnes (Aparejadores), Vicente Del Hoyo (El Salvador), Matt Foulds (Alcobendas), Manuel Mora (Agde, FR), Mike Walker-Fitton (El Salvador), Oier Goia (Ordizia), Juan Pablo Guido (Aparejadores), Michael Hogg (Barcelona), Fred Quercy (Nevers, FR), Victor Sánchez (El Salvador), Afa Tauli (UE Santboiana)
BACKS
Kerman Aurrekoetxea (Biarritz, FR), Facundo Munilla (Marcq, FR), Bautista Güemes (Barcelona), David Mélé (unattached), Gonzalo Vinuesa (Cisneros), Daniel Barranco (Barcelona), Diego Periel (Pozuelo), Andrea Rábago (Dijon, FR), Ignacio Contardi (UE Santboiana), Julen Goia (Ordizia), Pablo Ortiz (Barcelona), Richard Stewart (Alcobendas), Baltazar Taibo (VRAC)
