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Os Cobras are adding two further players to their roster. The newcomers are South Americans but are neither from Brazil nor Argentina. The Colombian pair of Diver Ceballos and Alain Altahona are on their way to the São Paulo team for Super Rugby Americas 2023.
Both men played Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) 2022 for Los Cafeteros Pro. They featured in the losing Semi Final effort against Peñarol. As it turns out that match was the final one for the Colombian SLAR franchise. Los Cafeteros Pro are not involved in the rebranded Super Rugby Americas.
Both Diver Ceballos and Alain Altoona are capped by Colombia. Ceballos was the best Colombian player in SLAR 2022. ARN named him as the best Cafeteros Pro forward for the 2022 season. His arrival at Cobras sees the flanker options boosted. Ceballos joins four Brazilians and uncapped Irishman Donnacha Byrne on the roster.
Altahona also had a strong 2022. ARN named both he and Ceballos on the All-Stars for the best Colombian forward and back respectively of 2022. He started on the right wing for Colombia against Paraguay in August. Os Cobras’ wing options are all Brazilian players. Altahona joins Argentines Nicolás Cantarutti and Facundo Vilalba as native Spanish-speakers in the back-line.
Os Cobras will open their Super Rugby Americas 2023 campaign on Sunday. They play at home against Yacare in São Paulo.
