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Argentina’s professional rugby team, Los Jaguares XV went undefeated in the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. The team overcame Peñarol to win the 2021 SLAR Final in Montevideo.
Los Jaguares XV go in to SLAR 2022 as the team to beat. Following on from the brief 2020 SLAR season, with Los Ceibos being the Argentine entrant, Argentine teams are undefeated in South American professional rugby.
Changes to the Jaguares XV roster have been significant. A player exodus saw members of the 2021 Jaguares XV roster moving abroad to continue their careers in England, France, Italy and in Major League Rugby.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
COACHING STAFF
Ignacio Fernández Lobbe continues as Head Coach in 2022. The former Puma coached Los Jaguares XV to the 2021 title. He is also the Head Coach of the Argentina XV. As a player he is considered one of the all-time greats of Los Pumas. He earned 65 caps for Argentina including playing in Rugby World Cups 1999, 2003 and 2007. He played professional rugby for Bordeaux and Castres in France and for Bath, Northampton and Sale Sharks in England. He won the English Premiership with Sale in 2006.
NEWCOMERS
There are many new names on the Los Jaguares XV roster. Two of them are Pumas – loose head prop Mayco Vivas and fullback Ignacio Mendy. N8 Bautista Pedemonte is a former Jaguares player in Super Rugby. Mendy won Bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games as did Santiago Mare who is also on the roster. The roster is also packed with young players; names who may go on to top honors for their country. The roster is full of players that will be in contention for the Argentina XV as as minimum in 2022.
IMPORTS
Los Jaguares XV is entirely made-up of Argentine players. There are no player from abroad; a unique factor among the six SLAR teams. The roster does contain Martín Bogado, Jerónimo Gómez Vara and Joaquín Pellandini played for the Olímpia Lions in 2021. Javier Coronel and Lautaro Simes played for Los Cafeteros Pro and Manuel Bernstein played for Os Cobras Brasil XV.
POSSIBLE STARTING XV
1 – Mayco Vivas
2 – Ignacio Ruiz
3 – Javier Coronel
4 – Lautaro Simes
5 – Rodrigo Fernández Criado
6 – Pedro Rubiolo
7 – Santiago Ruiz
8 – Bautista Pedemonte
9 – Joaquín Pellandini
10 – Santiago Mare
11 – Tomás Cubilla
12 – Juan Pablo Castro
13 – Agustín Segura
14 – Ignacio Mendy
15 – Gerónimo Prisciantelli
