SLAR 2022 Season Guide – Peñarol

Peñarol had a strong 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. Finishing second in SLAR 2021 proved to be a stepping-stone to the RWC 2023 qualifiers wherein Los Teros overcame the USA to qualify for France 2023 as Americas 1.

The Uruguayan side go in to SLAR 2022 as a team expected to again be competing for the title. The departure of some has been evened out by players returning home to Uruguay from foreign clubs.

Changes to the roster see a team preparing for the future. A detailed squad list can be seen here.

COACHING STAFF

Pablo Bouza continues as Head Coach in 2022. The former Puma is now into his third season in charge of Uruguay’s first professional rugby team. He has plenty of experience including previously being a forwards coach and a lineut coach for Argentina. As a player he played professionally in England and played for Argentina at RWC 2003.

RETURNEES

Peñarol has several notable returnees for SLAR 2022. Flanker Tomás Etcheverry will play for Peñarol in 2022 after having played for Los Cafeteros Pro in 2021. MLR players Diego Magno and Manuel Diana are back from the Houston SaberCats and Toronto Arrows respectively while Juan Manuel Tafernaberry is back following stint in Paris with Stade Français. Diana has undergone surgery and may miss the entire SLAR season.

IMPORTS

Peñarol’s player roster is dominated by Uruguayans. The two imports are both Argentines. Both played in SLAR 2021 and put on solid seasons. Fly half Nicolás Roger joins Peñarol after having played for Los Cafeteros Pro in 2021. He is the younger brother of Martín Roger who was a stand-out for Peñarol in 2021. Second-rower Nahuel Milan is back for a second season with Peñarol.

POSSIBLE STARTING XV

1 – Matías Benítez
2 – Guillermo Pujadas
3 – Diego Arbelo
4 – Diego Magno
5 – Nahuel Milan
6 – Eric doSantos
7 – Santiago Civetta
8 – Manuel Ardao
9 – Tomás Inciarte
10 – Nicolás Roger
11 – Rodrigo Silva
12 – Andrés Vilaseca (capt.)
13 – Felipe Arcos Pérez
14 – Mateo Viñals
15 – Baltazar Amaya