Chile names traveling squad for Canada series opener

Pablo Lemoine has selected 26 players to travel to Langford for the first leg of the Americas 2 Qualifier series against Canada on October 2. It will be the first match on Canadian soil for Los Cóndores since the embarrassing 56-0 defeat during the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship.

The squad shows only a small number of changes from the group that defeated Brazil and nearly upset Uruguay. First choice flanker Ignacio Silva is ruled out with an Achilles injury while loosehead prop Iñaki Gurruchaga, versatile forward Nikola Bursic, flyhalf Francisco Urroz, and veteran three-quarter José Ignacio Larenas are also absent.

While Ramón Ayarza remains sidelined after shoulder surgery, there is a recall for prop Vittorio Lastra who returns from spells in Italy and the Netherlands. Also called into the squad is former Brive Academy hooker Raimundo Martínez, who takes the place of Silva having impressed as a flanker in last week’s historic win over the Argentina XV.

As expected the Súper Liga franchise Selknam provides the bulk of the group with 20 senior players selected along with extended roster hooker Diego Escobar. Four played their club rugby in Europe this past season with Austin scrumhalf Marcelo Torrealba the only representative of Major League Rugby.

Squad details can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Javier Carrasco (Old Reds / Selknam), Matías Dittus (Uni Católica / Selknam), Esteban Inostroza (PWCC / Selknam), Vittorio Lastra (Old Macks), Salvador Lues (COBS / Selknam), Augusto Böhme (Uni Católica / Selknam), Tomás Dussaillant (Old Boys / Selknam), Diego Escobar (COBS), Javier Eissmann (Uni Católica / Selknam), Santiago Pedrero (COBS / Selknam), Clemente Saavedra (Old Boys / Selknam), Augusto Sarmiento (Aparejadores, ES), Alfonso Escobar (COBS / Selknam), Raimundo Martínez (PWCC / Selknam), Thomas Orchard (Old Lions / Selknam), Martín Sigren (capt., Old Boys / Selknam)

BACKS
Lukas Carvallo (PWCC / Selknam), Nicolás Herreros (Aparejadores, ES), Marcelo Torrealba (Austin Gilgronis, US), Santiago Videla (Old Boys / Selknam), Iñaki Ayarza (Charente, FR), Domingo Saavedra (Old Boys / Selknam), Matías Garafulic (COBS / Selknam), Nicolás Garafulic (COBS / Selknam), Franco Velarde (Viña / Selknam), Rodrigo Fernández (COBS / Selknam)