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Colombia’s on-field preparations for the RWC 2023 qualifiers started this year. Colombia did not play test match rugby; instead, the country had an entrant in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR).
Los Cafeteros Pro was a hybrid team. The roster consisted of Colombians and Argentines with Colombians accounting for the overall majority. The Colombians on the roster are to claim close to all of the places in the test side, Los Tucanes, that will face Chile in the upcoming RWC 2023 qualifiers.
In August 2020, Colombia Rugby (FECO) identified 50 players for the RWC 2023 qualifiers. Later that month a goal was announced by the governing body: Colombia is targetting qualifying for RWC 2031. To achieve this goal, FECO made it known that it must first decrease the gap between Los Tucanes on the one hand and Brazil and Chile on the other. SLAR 2021 was a crucial step in making this possible.
Since then Colombia has lost captain José Manuel Diosa to retirement. The creation of Los Cafeteros Pro has seen the professional player base transformed from a handful of players to the majority of a roster competing in the South American league. In 2020 the players were Brayan Campiño and Andrés Zafra in France, Julio Giraldo at Rugby United New York and Danny Giraldo, Diver Ceballos, and Geovanny Carvajal at Peñarol.
COLOMBIA
| ## | PLAYER | CLUB | POS |
FIRST XV
| 1 | Yani Pérez | Cafeteros Pro | LH |
| 2 | Juan David Herrera | Cafeteros Pro | HK/LH |
| 3 | Brayan Pérez | Cafeteros Pro | TH |
| 4 | Andrés Zafra | Agen (FR) | LO |
| 5 | Jhon Álvarez (capt.) | Cafeteros Pro | LO |
| 6 | Diver Ceballos | Cafeteros Pro | FL |
| 7 | Danny Giraldo | Cafeteros Pro | FL |
| 8 | Gerson Ortíz | Cafeteros Pro | N8 |
| 9 | Julián Navarro | Cafeteros Pro | SH |
| 10 | Jhojan Ortiz | Cafeteros Pro | FH |
| 11 | Alejandro Navarro | Cafeteros Pro | WI |
| 12 | Cristian Rodallegas | Cafeteros Pro | CE/WI |
| 13 | Geovanny Carvajal | Rhinos | CE |
| 14 | Jhon Arley Urrutia | Cafeteros Pro | WI |
| 15 | Andrés Álvarez | Cafeteros Pro | FH/FB |
The projected starting XV is Cafeteros Pro dominated. This is as expected. SLAR form was the leading variant to project who will start for Colombia. There was a willingness to test Colombian players in SLAR. Meanwhile, Zafra is the one name still abroad who has been playing with regularity.
Zafra will start if available; this is absolutely certain. His place in the side could be in the second-row or at flanker. He has the side of the form and the speed of the latter to succeed in both as demonstated while playing in the Top 14.
The projected front-row is one which has played together, and started together, this year for Los Cafeteros Pro. Los Cafeteros Pro relied a lot on Argentines for the back-row. This is reflected in the above formation. Danny Giraldo played at both second-row and flanker in SLAR. The needs of the team see Jhon Álvarez as the projected captain from the second-row with Danny Giraldo on the side of the scrum.
A player expected to miss out is Julio Giraldo. He is presently dedicated to his studies; as such, Colombia will be playing without him against Chile.
The backs all played in SLAR. There are a number of possibilities, with the above formation being a best-bet. Andrés Álvarez is arguably the leading option at fly half, though the needs of the team at fullback explain the selection. Geovanny Carvajal is projected to start in the mid-field. This is despite him missing the 2021 SLAR season. He opted to not play due to the long period away and existing commitments. ARN can confirm that he will train with Los Tucanes.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Jorge Álvarez | Cafeteros Pro | HK |
| 17 | Mauricio Espinal | Duendes | LH |
| 18 | Diego Posada | Cafeteros Pro | TH |
| 19 | Sebastián Zapata | Cafeteros Pro | LO |
| 20 | Julián Velandia | Cafeteros Pro | FL |
| 21 | Oscar Forero | Cafeteros Pro | SH |
| 22 | Álvaro Gamarra | Cafeteros Pro | CE |
| 23 | Brayan Campiño | Pamiers (FR) | WI |
The replacements are a mixture of SLAR and other players. Los Cafeteros Pro did not have replacement Colombian players across all positions. This is reflected in the naming of Maurio Espinal, and Brayan Campiño. The pair have been regulars for Colombia in the past. Espinal has started for Los Tucanes at prop ahead of names who started for Los Cafeteros Pro. Brayan Campiño has been playing in France. In other words, they may all be able to claim starting places against Chile.
