MLR 2021 – Players from Latin America

The MLR 2021 season will feature players from around the world. This, in part, explains why there is growing interest in the league. One region with a healthy spread of players is the Americas itself. The USA and Canada are joined by a range of players from Latin America. This article looks at who are the Latin American players that will play in the upcoming MLR season.

Julio Giraldo is not listed. He will not play for Rugby United New York this season. As such Colombia will not have a player in the 2021 MLR season. However, the involvement of Los Cafeteros Pro in SLAR means that Colombian rugby fans will have a professional team of their own.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay will all have players in the 2021 MLR season. Argentina has easily the most with 17 players. Uruguay has 5, Chile 2 and Brazil 1 player. Argentine-born Ben Cima is listed despite having played for the USA. Bautista Ezcurra, Santiago González Iglesias, Manuel Montero, and Joaquín Tuculet are former Super Rugby players. González Iglesias and Tuculet plauyed for Los Pumas in Rugby World Cups.

Uruguay’s five players are Manuel Diana (Toronto Arrows), Ignacio Dotti (NOLA Gold), Leandro Leivas (Toronto Arrows), Diego Magno (Houston SaberCats), and Gastón Mieres (Toronto Arrows). All five players have played for Uruguay in Rugby World Cups.

Mexico is also included. This is the case despite Angel Torres having been born in California. Torres qualifies for Mexico via the parent law and has made no secret of his connection and intention in regards to Mexico rugby.

 

Click here to access the complete MLR 2021 player rosters.

 

ARGENTINA (17)
Juan Pablo Aguirre (Seattle Seawolves)
Benjamín Bonasso (Rugby United New York)
Juan Cappiello (NOLA Gold)
Ben Cima (Seattle Seawolves)*
Gastón Córtes (Toronto Arrows)
Tomás de la Vega (Toronto Arrows)
Julián Domínguez (NOLA Gold)
Bautista Ezcurra (Rugby ATL)
Diego Fortuny (Houston SaberCats)
Matías Freyre (Houston SaberCats)
Juan Cruz González (Toronto Arrows)
Santiago González Iglesias (San Diego Legion)
Joel Miranda (Rugby United New York)
Manuel Montero (Toronto Arrows)
Thomas Morani (Houston SaberCats)
Nicolás Solveyra (Houston SaberCats)
Joaquín Tuculet (Toronto Arrows)

BRAZIL (1)
Wilton Rebolo (Rugby United New York)

CHILE (2)
Nikola Bursic (NOLA Gold)
Marcelo Torrealba (Austin Gilgronis)

MEXICO (1)
Angel Torres (Austin Gilgronis)

URUGUAY (5)
Manuel Diana (Toronto Arrows)
Ignacio Dotti (NOLA Gold)
Leandro Leivas (Toronto Arrows)
Diego Magno (Houston SaberCats)
Gastón Mieres (Toronto Arrows)

* USA Capped