Brazil name squad to prepare for Chile XV match

Interim Head Coach Josh Reeves has named 26 players in his Brazil squad to prepare for Sunday’s meeting with the Chile XV. It’s the first match of the Americas Rugby Trophy series that also includes Canada ‘A’. The games are being hosted at the Estádio Nogueira in Mogi des Cruzes.

Despite the match not being given test status and no World Rankings points being on the line, Reeves has selected an experienced squad with several first choice players. Second row Gabriel Paganini continues as skipper and is one of 19 players who appeared for Cobras during the 2022 SLAR season.

Uncapped players are tighthead prop Levy Marinho, scrumhalf Igor Luciano, and flyhalf João Amaral. Marinho was an unused replacement in the narrow victory over Portugal in August, while Amaral was in the training squad but not selected in a match day 23.

Two players who are based overseas are named. Ireland-based flanker Diego Vidal made his debut as a replacement against Colombia in the South American Tri-Nations. Midfielder Lorenzo Massari did not play in that series but returns from Italy to bolster the squad for the upcoming games.

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Alexandre Alves (Desterro / Cobras) 8 caps
Brendon Alves (Pasteur / Cobras) 2 caps

HOOKER
Leonardo de Souza (São José / Cobras) 5 caps
David Müller (Pasteur / Cobras) 1 cap
Endy Willian (Curitiba / Cobras) 9 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Henrique Ferreira (Pasteur / Cobras) 3 caps
Levy Marinho (Jacareí) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Kauã Guimarães (Pasteur / Cobras) 1 cap
Gabriel Oliveira (Jacareí / Cobras) 2 caps
Gabriel Paganini (capt., Poli / Cobras) 29 caps

BACK ROW
André Arruda (Desterro / Cobras) 37 caps
Matheus Cláudio (Jacareí / Cobras) 9 caps
Adrio de Melo (Pasteur / Cobras) 9 caps
Cléber Dias (Poli / Cobras) 38 caps
Diego Vidal (Cork Constitution, IR) 1 cap

SCRUMHALF
Felipe Cunha (Pasteur) 7 caps
Igor Luciano (Pasteur) uncapped
Douglas Rauth (Curitiba / Cobras) 10 caps

FLYHALF
João Amaral (SPAC) uncapped
Lucas Tranquez (Poli / Cobras) 43 caps

MIDFIELD
Lorenzo Massari (Calvisano, IT) 9 caps
Victor Silva (São José / Cobras) 2 caps
Robert Tenório (Poli / Cobras) 25 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Guilherme Coghetto (Farrapos) 17 caps
Daniel Lima (Poli / Cobras) 13 caps
Robson Morais (Pasteur / Cobras) 3 caps