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An extended Pampas roster has been named by the UAR. The 39-man roster consists of 21 forwards and 18 backs. Pampas will compete in Super Rugby Americas as the national franchise under the banner of the UAR. Argentina’s second entrant, Los Dogos will compete under the control of the Unión Córdobesa de Rugby.
The 39-man-roster has many former Jaguares XV players. Eliseo Chiavassa, Nicolás D’Amorim, Santiago Ruiz, Juan Pablo Castro, Iñaki Delguy and Rafael Iriate are all cases in point. Castro is a strong contender to captain the side.
Not included is Pedro Rubiolo. The 2022 Jaguares XV back-rower made his Pumas debut against South Africa in the Rugby Championship. The 20-year-old has been linked to a move abroad to continue his career in England.
The Pampas have not only gone heavy on Jaguares XV players, the franchise also has players who previously played for other SLAR teams. Manuel Bernstein previously played for Brazilian side Cobras and Lorenzo Colidio played the 2022 season for Olímpia Lions.
The now defunct Cafeteros Pro was Argentine-centric. Players from the 2022 campaign, wherein the Colombian side reached the Semi Finals, include Manuel Alfaro, Javier Corvalán, Eliseo Fourcade, Federico Lavanini and Eliseo Morales. Lavanini is the younger brother of 78-time capped Pumas Tomás Lavanini. Morales made his Pumas debut alongside Lavanini in November.
Also of note is the inclusion of Jerónimo Ureta. The Argentina XV second-rower is back in the mix. He played in the inaugural SLAR season for Los Ceibos. Also back is Rodrigo Fernández Criado who returns from Montauban in France and Joaquín de la Vega Mendía is back from Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby.
The team will be coached by Pumas great Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. He is well-established having coached the Argentina XV and Los Jaguares XV to titles. He will be assisted by Sebastián Yavícoli (backs coach) and Conrado González Bravo (forwards coach).
The 2023 Super Americas Rugby season will begin on February 18 and conclude in June. The pre-season training will begin at Casa Pumas in Buenos Aires on Monday, January 16, 2023. Los Pampas will play home matches at La Catedral.
PAMPAS
LOOSE HEAD
Javier Corvalán (Deportiva Francesa)
Matías Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista)
Miguel Prince (Newman)
HOOKER
Ramiro Gurovich (Club Atlético Estudiantes)
Valentino Minoyetti (BACRC)
Rodrigo Pérez Boulan (Lomas Athletic)
TIGHT HEAD
Javier Coronel (Universitario de La Plata)
Martín Villar (Lomas Athletic)
Renzo Zanella (Comercial)
SECOND-ROW
Manuel Bernstein (Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada)
Lorenzo Colidio (Duendes)
Franco Carrera (San Cirano)
Rodrigo Fernández Criado (Belgrano Athletic)
Eliseo Fourcade (Pucará)
Federico Lavanini (Hindú)
Jerónimo Ureta (Newman)
BACK-ROW
Eliseo Chiavassa (Los Tilos)
Nicolás D’Amorim (Hindú)
Felipe Bares (Los Tilos)
Benjamín Grondona (Champagnat)
Santiago Ruiz (Regatas Bella Vista)
SCRUM-HALF
Mateo Albanese (SIC)
Tomás Di Biase (Deportiva Francesa)
Rafael Iriarte (CUBA)
Eliseo Morales (Universitario de Salta)
FLY HALF
Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (Hindú)
Joaquín Lamas (SIC)
Tomás Suárez Folch (La Plata RC)
CENTER
Manuel Alfaro (Banco Nación)
Felipe de la Vega (CUBA)
Juan Pablo Castro (San Juan RC)
WING
Tomás Passaro (CUBA)
Jerónimo Ulloa (Newman)
Santiago Castro (San Martín)
Iñaki Delguy (Pucará)
Ignacio Lucero (Mendoza RC)
Mateo Pannochia (Los Tordos)
FULLBACK
Benjamín Elizalde (Tigres RC)
Juan Ignacio Landó (Belgrano Athletic)
