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The 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season will be the third edition of the South American professional league. The first season was ended early while the second saw Los Jaguares XV winning every match during the regular season and defeating the Olímpia Lions at the Semi Final stage and then beating Peñarol in the 2021 SLAR Final.
The Argentine entrant are favorites to win again in 2022; notwithstanding, vast changes to the player rosters mean that prior results are far from conclusive as projecting SLAR 2022.
The 2022 season will see the same six competitors returning from SLAR 2021. Changes see matches played in three, rather than two, countries. There are to also be more match venues with Paraguay set to host matches for the first time.
Los Cafeteros Pro have a 2/3 to 1/3 split with Argentines occupying 20 of the 30 places on the roster and 10 being Colombian players. This is changed from 2021 wherein the player roster contained 19 Colombians, 13 Argentines and 1 Uruguayan.
There are notable new names from Argentina for SLAR 2022. The younger brother of Tomás Lavanini, Federico Lavanini will play for Los Cafeteros Pro. He will do so as a SLAR rookie. Leonardo Gea Salim and Franco Giudice join after having previously played SLAR for other teams.
On paper the player roster ought to be classisfied as more competitive than in 2021. Changes in policies for SLAR 2022 will see a team with greater chances of winning matches. This is reflected in the notably rise from 2021 to 2022 which means 66.6% of the 2022 players are Argentines.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Carlos Angulo | LH | Colombia |
| Álvaro Llaver | HK | Marista Cuyo (AR) |
| Boris Wegner | HK | Jockey Córdoba (AR) |
| Tomás Bertot | TH | Estudiantes de Paraná (AR) |
| Daniel Gutiérrez | TH | Colombia |
| Brian González | TH | CAP (AR) |
| Eliseo Fourcade | LO | Pucará (AR) |
| Gregório Hernández | LO | Tala (AR) |
| Federico Lavanini | LO | Hindú (AR) |
| José Galvez | FL | CRAI (AR) |
| Juan Bautista Mernes | FL | Estudiantes de Paraná (AR) |
| Marcos Amorisa | SH | Los Matreros (AR) |
| Eliseo Morales | SH | Universitario Rugby Club Salta (AR) |
| Joaquín Sánchez | SH | Córdoba Athletic (AR) |
| Julián Hernández | FH | Marista Cuyo (AR) |
| Juan David Agudelo | CE | Colombia |
| Manuel Alfaro | CE | Banco Nación (AR) |
| Valentín Fernández | CE | Santa Fé (AR) |
| Leonardo Gea Salim | CE | Universidad de Salta (AR) |
| Alain Altahona | WI | Colombia |
| Manuel de Marco | WI | Jockey Rosario (AR) |
| Brayan Guzmán | WI | Colombia |
| Franco Giudice | FB | Cobras (BR) |
A massive player exodus means that Los Cafeteros 2022 will be vastly different to Los Cafeteros Pro in 2021. Nicolás Roger and Tomás Etcheverry have gone to Peñarol while Lautaro Simes and Javier Coronel are now Jaguares XV players. Others have returned to their home clubs in Argentina or Colombia and a notable number are now playing in Europe.
The team’s 2021 captain was Gonzalo García. He now plays in Italy and has the potential to hold down a starting position in an elite league. He was the stand-out scrum-half in SLAR 2021 and was rewarded with his test debut for Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Juan David Herrera | LO | Colombia |
| Yani Pérez | LO | Colombia |
| Agustín Acosta | HK | Tala (AR) |
| Jorge Álvarez | HK | Colombia |
| Javier Coronel | TH | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Brayhan Pérez | TH | Colombia |
| Jhon Carlos Álvarez | LO | Colombia |
| Tomás Etcheverry | LO | Peñarol (UY) |
| Danny Giraldo | LO | Colombia |
| Lautaro Simes | LO | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Ramiro Tallone | LO | Lomas (AR) |
| Enzo Ocampo | FL | Universitario de Córdoba (AR) |
| Sebastián Zapata | FL | Colombia |
| Aníbal Panceyra Garrido | N8 | Retired |
| Gerson Ortiz | N8 | France |
| Gonzalo García | SH | Valorugby Emilia (IT) |
| Oscár Forero | SH | Colombia |
| Nicolás Roger | FH | Peñarol (UY) |
| Santiago Resino | CE | Perugia (IT) |
| Tomás García | CE | Natación y Gimnásia (AR) |
| Facundo Pueyrredón | CE | La Tablada (AR) |
| Cristian Rodallegas | CE | Colombia |
| Álvaro Gamarra | WI | Colombia |
| Alejandro Navarro | WI | Colombia |
| Jhon Arley Urrutia | WI | Colombia |
| Julián Velandia | WI | Colombia |
| Facundo Ferrario | FB | Rovigo (IT) |
Os Cobras Brasil XV have a different approach to that of the Colombian entrant. The Brazilian side has gone for fewer foreign players in 2022 than in 2021. Early elimination in the RWC 2023 qualifiers sees Brazil’s 2027 preparations underway now and SLAR 2022 is the first genuine step.
Just two foreign-players who are not elibigle to play for Brazil are on the 2022 Cobras roster. They are Argentine prop Mariano Filomeno and French center Simon Bienvenu. The others on the 2022 roster who were not in 2021 are based in Brazil. There is a heavy addition of players from the Jacareí and Pasteur clubs in São Paulo state.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| André Brandão | LH | Jacareí |
| David Muller | HK | Jacareí |
| Henrique Ferreira | TH | Pasteur |
| Mariano Filomeno | TH | CAR (AR) |
| Kauã Guimarães | LO | Pasteur |
| Gabriel Oliveira | LO | Jacareí |
| Devon Müller | FL | Pasteur |
| Carlos Moura | FH | Jacareí |
| Simon Bienvenu | CE | Toulouse (FR) |
| Pedro Goulart | CE | Monte Grande (AR) |
| Joel Santos | CE | São José |
| Victor Souza | CE | São José |
| Sérgio Luna | WI | SPAC |
| Robson Moraes | FB | Pasteur |
2021 captain Felipe Sancery misses out through injury. His twin brother, Daniel Sancery is back for a third season of SLAR. Felipe Sancery is not the only establish back out of the mix for SLAR 2022. Felipe Cunha, Moisés Duque and Joshua Reeves are also all missing.
The Argentine players from SLAR 2021 are all no longer with os Cobras Brasil XV. Marcos de Sanctis now plays in Italy while Manuel Berstein will play for Los Jaguares XV and Franco Giudice will play for Los Cafeteros Pro.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Lucas Abud | LH | Poli |
| Caique Silva | LH | Saint Denis (FR) |
| Alejandro Luna | LH | Aparejadores Rugby Burgos (ES) |
| Santiago Grippo | HK | Uru Cure (AR) |
| Yan Rosetti | HK | Pasteur |
| Juan Román González | TH | Jockey Venado Tuerto (AR) |
| Leonel Moreno | TH | Germina (ES) |
| Matheus Rocha | TH | Cdul (PT) |
| Manuel Bernstein | LO | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Felipe Cunha | SH | Pasteur |
| Marcos de Sanctis | FH | Viadana (IT) |
| Joshua Reeves | FH | Band Saracens |
| Moisés Duque | CE | São José |
| Felipe Sancery | CE | São José |
| Franco Giudice | FB | Cafeteros Pro (CO) |
For Los Jaguares XV, the 2022 SLAR season is far less than a title-defending campaign than it is for a team of new names. Far more than half of the player roster did not play for the Argentine team in SLAR 2021.
Notable newcomers are Bautista Pedemonte and Mayco Vivas; both players were Super Rugby players for Los Jaguares. They sat out SLAR 2021 through injury. It gave others opportunities and they took them as they now play in Europe.
The 2022 Jaguares XV roster includes names from rival teams. Manuel Bernstein joins from Os Cobras, Nicolás Revol Pitt and Martín Bogado, Jerónimo Gómez Vara from Olímpia Lions and Javier Coronel and Lautaro Simes from Cafeteros Pro.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Mateo Nuñez Miseres | LH | Alma Juniors |
| Nicolás Revol Pitt | LH | Olímpia Lions (PY) |
| Santiago Pulella | LH | Jockey Córdoba |
| Mayco Vivas | LH | Atlético del Rosario |
| Andrea Panzarini | HK | SIC |
| Javier Coronel | TH | Cafeteros Pro (CO) |
| Lautaro Caro Saisi | TH | Pueyrredón |
| Adrian Delgado | TH | Liceo Naval |
| Hugo García | TH | CASI |
| Martín Villar | TH | Lomas |
| Lucio Anconetani | LO | Duendes |
| Manuel Bernstein | LO | Cobras (BR) |
| Lautaro Simes | LO | Cafeteros Pro (CO) |
| Aitor Bildosola | FL | Los Tordos |
| Elisio Chiavassa | FL | Los Tilos |
| Jerónimo Gómez Vara | FL | Olímpia Lions (PY) |
| Bautista Pedemonte | N8 | Santiago Lawn Tennis |
| Mateo Albanese | SH | SIC |
| Juan Cruz Strada | SH | Santa Fé |
| Joaquín Pellandini | SH | Olímpia Lions |
| Tomás Suárez Folch | FH | La Plata |
| Santiago Mare | FH | Los Pumas 7’s |
| Juan Corso | CE | Regatas Bella Vista |
| Martín Bogado | WI | Olímpia Lions (PY) |
| Iñaki Delguy | WI | Pucará |
| Nicanor López Fernández | WI | Atlético del Rosario |
| Francisco Pisani | WI | Regatas Bella Vista |
| Ramiro D’Agostino | FB | Los Pumas 7’s |
| Ignacio Mendy | FB | Los Pumas 7’s |
The mass of new names for SLAR 2022 also means many players have moved on. Some have opted out of playing in SLAR 2022 to remain playing for their clubs while many are now playing abroad. Players joined teams in Major League Rugby, the Top 10, Pro D2, Top 14, United Rugby Championship (URC) and the English Premiership.
2021 captain Felipe Ezcurra now plays for Grenoble in the Pro D2. His starting halves partner, Tomás Albornoz plays for Benetton in the URC. Both established names and some who were Jaguares XV rookies in 2021 are missing from the team’s 2022 SLAR roster.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Francisco Minervino | LH | Lyons Piacenza (IT) |
| Nicolás Toth | LH | Provence (FR) |
| Federico Wegrzyn | LH | Provence (FR) |
| Martín Vaca | HO | Narbonne (FR) |
| Joel Sclavi | TH | La Rochelle (FR) |
| Luciano Torres | TH | Unattached |
| Juan Pablo Zeiss | TH | Houston SaberCats (US) |
| Federico Gutíerrez | LO | Albi (FR) |
| Lautaro Bavaro | FL | Hindú |
| Francisco Gorrissen | FL | Vannes (FR) |
| Juan Martín González | FL | London Irish (UK) |
| Tomás Bernasconi | N8 | Calvisano (IT) |
| Joaquín Oviedo | N8 | Perpignan (FR) |
| Felipe Ezcurra | SH | Grenoble (FR) |
| Tomás Albornoz | FH | Benetton (IT) |
| Martín Elías | FH | Atlético del Rosario (AR) |
| Santiago Chocobares | CE | Toulouse (FR) |
| Teo Castiglioni | CE | Valorugby Emilia (IT) |
| Martín Cancelliere | WI | Hindú |
| Sebastián Cancelliere | WI | Glasgow Warriors (UK) |
| Tomás Malanos | WI | Atlético del Rosario (AR) |
| Juan Bautista Daireaux | WI | Newman |
The Olímpia Lions have had a heavy player turn-over. Both Paraguayans and Argentines have come and gone. There is a 50% split with 15 out of the 30 new players for SLAR 2022 being Paraguayans and 50% being Argentines. As was the case in SLAR 2021, the make-up of the roster suggests that it will be an Argentine-centric team with some Paraguayans having starting opportunities and others featuring as replacements.
Lucas Santa Cruz was a stand-out for the Olímpia Lions in 2021. He is now playing in Spain. The Paraguayan side will be looking for new recruit Mariano Romanini to have a similar role to that of Santa Cruz. Another new name of note is Arturo López. He is eligible to play for Paraguay via ancestry.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Juan Ávila | LH | Lomas (AR) |
| Conrado Iglesias | LH | Universitario Córdoba (AR) |
| Diego Caballero | TH | Paraguay |
| Rolando Portillo | TH | Paraguay |
| Emilio Gorostiaga | HK | Paraguay |
| Luciano Weston | HK | Paraguay |
| Estefano Aranda | TH | Paraguay |
| Ezequiel Reyes | TH | Aranduroga (AR) |
| César Pérez | TH | Paraguay |
| Gastón Salvi | TH | Paraguay |
| Lorenzo Colidio | LO | CRAR (AR) |
| Agustín Toth | LO | Lomas (AR) |
| Álvaro Biscay | FL | CURNE (AR) |
| Lautaro Brítez | FL | Paraguay |
| Federico Simondi | FL | Tala (AR) |
| Ariel Núñez | FL | Paraguay |
| Mariano Romanini | N8 | Alumni (AR) |
| Facundo Villalba | SH | Córdoba Athletic (AR) |
| Estanislao Arrías | FH | Tilcara (AR) |
| Rafael Bareiro | FH | Paraguay |
| Ramiro Amarilla | CE | Paraguay |
| Juan Chilavert | CE | Paraguay |
| Arturo López | CE | Lomas Misiones (AR) |
| Gianfranco Parodi | CE | Paraguay |
| Ignacio González | WI | Paraguay |
| Nicolás Hogg | WI | San Andrés (AR) |
| Matías Sauze | WI | Tucumán RC (AR) |
| Pedro Elías Sotelo Gómez | WI | Paraguay |
| Julián Quetglas | FB | La Tablada (AR) |
| Diego Walter | FB | Pueyrredón (AR) |
As noted, Lucas Santa Cruz is a notable loss to the Olímpia Lions. He and Lucas Favre are teammates in El Salvador Silverstream. Rodrigo Martínez impressed so much that he played for Los Pumas in 2021 and now plays in the English Premiership. Fellow front-rowers Axel Zapata and Javier Díaz are now attached to teams in the USA and Italy respectively.
Flanker, Jerónimo Gómez Vara, scrum-half Joaquín Pellandini and winger Martín Bogado have made the move south back to Argentina. They will play for Los Jaguares XV against the Olímpia Lions in SLAR 2022.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB |
| Javier Díaz | LH | Valorugby Emilia (IT) |
| Rodrigo Martínez | LH | Wasps (UK) |
| Nicolás Revol Pitt | LH | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Axel Zapata | HK | Houston SaberCats (US) |
| Lucas Favre | TH | El Salvador (ES) |
| Martín Sitjar | TH | Paraguay |
| Mauro Rebbussone | LO | Colorno (IT) |
| Jerónimo Gómez Vara | FL | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Lucas Santa Cruz | FL | El Salvador (ES) |
| Matías Gómez Vara | FL | Aranduroga (AR) |
| Carlos Plate | N8 | Paraguay |
| Marcos Riquelme | N8 | Paraguay |
| Joaquín Pellandini | SH | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Rodrigo Gómez Vara | FH | Aranduroga (AR) |
| Maximo Ledesma | FH | Lyons Piacenza (IT) |
| Diego Argaña | CE | Paraguay |
| Franco Bullentini | CE | Duendes (AR) |
| Renato Cardona | WI | Paraguay |
| Leopoldo Herrera | WI | Lazio (IT) |
| Marcelo Matiauda | WI | Paraguay |
| Martín Bogado | WI | Jaguares XV (AR) |
Peñarol have done two things for SLAR 2022. First, the Uruguayans have brought home established test players Diego Magno and Manuel Diana from MLR. Second, Peñarol have looked to their youth and have named many up-and-comers on the roster. This notably comes with World Rugby having decided not to play the Junior World Trophy again in 2022.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB Union) |
| Mathias Franco | LH | PSG |
| Agustín Méndez | LH | Seminario |
| Ignacio Rua | LH | Old Christians |
| Emiliano Faccenini | HK | Carrasco Polo |
| Joaquín Myszka | HK | Old Boys |
| Agustín Doño | LO | – |
| Tomás Etcheverry | LO | Cafeteros Pro (CO) |
| Diego Magno | LO | Houston SaberCats (US) |
| Juan Martín David | FL | MVCC |
| Renato Scremini | FL | Seminario |
| Manuel Diana | N8 | Toronto Arrows (CA) |
| Juan Manuel Tafernaberry | SH | Stade Français (FR) |
| Nicolás Roger | FH | Cafeteros Pro (CO) |
| Koba Brazionis | CE | Los Ceibos |
| Augusto Paullier | CE | – |
| Bautista Basso | WI | Old Boys |
| Francisco Berchesi | WI | Carrasco Polo |
| Javier Garese | WI | Carrasco Polo |
| Ignacio Álvarez | FB | Lobos |
Player movement has seen Nicolás Freitas and Juan Manuel Alonso moving to further theirt careers in France. The Uruguayans are joined by Argentines also having left Peñarol to play in different countries. Another to have gone is Uruguayan hooker Facundo Gattas. Three others from SLAR 2021 are sitting out SLAR 2022 but remain active for their local clubs.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Facundo Gattas | HK | Hindú (AR) |
| Facundo Pomponio | TH | Floirac (FR) |
| Ezequiel Ramos | TH | Trébol |
| Marcos Chamyan | N8 | PSG |
| Alejandro Nieto | N8 | Champagnat |
| Conrado Roura | N8 | Dallas Jackals (US) |
| Manuel Nogués | SH | Atlético del Rosario (AR) |
| Martín Roger | FH | Valsugana (IT) |
| Nicolás Freitas | CE | Vannes (FR) |
| Juan Manuel Alonso | WI | Brive (FR) |
Selknam’s extended player roster means a longlist of rookies. Five of the new players are joining Selknam from abroad. Three of them are Argentines and Juan Zuccarino joining from Uruguay. Also now on the roster is Marcelo Torrealba, Chile’s starting scrum-half. He has made the move home from Major League Rugby (MLR) at the best possible time for Los Cóndores.
| PLAYER IN | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| Norma Aguayo | LH | Los Troncos |
| Lucas Haddad | LH | Old Boys |
| Jorge Delgado | HK | Universidad Católica |
| Diego Escobar | HK | COBS |
| Juan Pablo Gómez | TH | Sporting |
| Marco López | TH | Costa del Sol |
| Franco Pechia | TH | Pueyredón (AR) |
| Agustín Fernández | LO | PWCC |
| Franco Molina | LO | Jaguares XV (AR) |
| Augusto Sarmiento | LO | PWCC |
| Santiago Edwards | FL | Old Boys |
| Agustín Pérez | FL | Sporting |
| Nicolás Sabaleta | FL | Sporting |
| Joaquín Germán Milesi | N8 | PWCC |
| Ernesto Ariel Tchimino | N8 | DOBS |
| Marcelo Torrealba | SH | Austin Gilgronis (US) |
| Benjamín Videla | SH | Old Boys |
| Tomás Alvarado | FH | Old Boys |
| Juan Zuccarino | FH | MVCC (UY) |
| Lucas Fertonani | FH | Santa Fé (AR) |
| Francisco Urrow | FH | CD Alumni |
| Diego Warnken | FH | CD Alumni |
| José Miguel Alcerreca | CE | DOBS |
| Clemente Armstrong | CE | DOBS |
| Gaspar Moltedo | CE | Old Macks |
| Benjamín de Vidts | WI | Old Johns |
| Cristóbal Game | WI | Old Johns |
| Baltazar Jana | WI | CD Alumni |
| Vicente Urbina | WI | CD Alumni |
| Joaquín Huici | FB | Stade Français |
| Luca Strabucchi | FB | CD Alumni |
| Vicente Tredinick | FB | Old Boys |
The incoming players mean that Chile could theoretically select a Selknam-only side for international duty. There are, however, some notable names who played in 2021 but are now abroad. José Ramón Ayarza is back in France and Clemebte Saavedra is now in Spain. Augusto Böhme is another possible starting player for Chile for the RWC 2023 qualifiers against the USA.
Selknam has also said goodbye to Argentines. Ignacio Albornoz, Patricio Baronio, Maximilano Filizzola, and Santiago Portillo will not play for the Chilean SLAR side in 2022.
| PLAYER OUT | POS | CLUB (Union) |
| José Ramón Ayarza | LH | Charente (FR) |
| Augusto Böhme | HK | Seattle Seawolves (US) |
| Santiago Portillo | LO | Lyons Piacenza (IT) |
| Clemente Saavedra | LO | UE Santboiana (ES) |
| Bautista Stavile | FL | Viadana (IT) |
| Patricio Baronio | SH | Jockey Rosario (AR) |
| Ignacio Albornoz | FH | Tucumán RC (AR) |
| Franco Velarde | CE | El Salvador (ES) |
| Maximiliano Filizzola | WI | Lyons Piacenza (IT) |
