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Major League Rugby 2023 will involve players from four South American countries. Argentina, Chile, Pargauay and Uruguay will be represented. Capped players will feature including names in the frame for Rugby World Cup 2023.
While Canada and the USA missed out on qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2023 there are South Americans who are teammates of Canadians and Eagles who are well placed to play at the World Cup. There are also Argentines and a Paraguayan who would feature in a reestablished Americas Rugby Championship.
Click here to access the 2023 Major League Rugby season page.
ARGENTINA
There will be a wide spread of Argentine players in 2023 Major League Rugby. The New England Free Jacks will feature N8 Tomás Casares. From Buenos Aires, Casares has an American father and is a player to watch who could play for the Eagles.
The New York Iron Workers are home to an Eagles with Argentine attachment. Benjamín Bonasso was born in Conneticut and raised in Argentina. He is a product of Argentine rugby; he earned selection for Argentina u20’s. He returned to the USA to play professional rugby and is USA capped.
The nation’s capital will see a healthy supply of Argentines. Old Glory DC aheve recruited heavily from the giants of Americas rugby for MLR 2023. Former Argentina XV captain Lautaro Bávaro has arrived as has former Pumas fly half Joaquín Díaz Bonilla and World Cup tight head prop Ramiro Herrera. Center Fermín Martínez has also been recruited as has Marcos Young who is USA born while Buenos Aires flanker Alejo Daireaux is USA eligibile.
Argentina XV second-rower Nahuel Milán will play for Rugby ATL. Milán was outstanding in the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) for Peñarol. He held down a starting spot in the Uruguayan second-row. The Houston SaberCats will again be the home of Argentine hooker Axel Zapata.
Newcomers the Chicago Hounds are close to unveiling a new signing from Argentina. The player is of note. He has played for the Argentina XV and is well-known to MLR players and supporters.
The Dallas Jackals have brought a new meaning to recruiting from Argentina. A massive influx of players sees Conrado Roura joined by Joaquín Horcada, Alejandro Torres, Tomás Malanos, Matías Caramuti, Lucas Bür, Pedro Imhoff, Tomás Baravalle, Nazareno Valentini, Marcos Moroni, Martín Elías, Juan Pablo Zeiss, and Jerónimo Gómez Vara all on the roster for MLR 2023.
The west coast will see two Argentine connected names playing for the San Diego Legion. The pair are from the USA but are Argentine raised and it was in Argentina where they learned their rugby. They are backs Thomas Morani and Matías Freyre. The latter played for Argentina 7’s. Eligibility law changes mean he can play for the USA Eagles.
CHILE
A look to the north of the USA Border to Canada will be the focus of Chilean rugby supporters. Chilean loose head prop Ramón Ayarza has joined the Toronto Arrows. He was one of Chile’s best players in the past but the introduction of Selknam has meant massive competition for places on Los Cóndores roster. Ayarza has a good shot at selection for RWC 2023.
PARAGUAY
From Paraguay to New York, from SLAR to MLR. This is the case of Paraguayan prop Enrique Quinteros. He has joined the New York Iron Workers for MLR 2023. It comes with Brazil’s Wilton Rebolo having departed to continue his career for the Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific.
URUGUAY
Old Glory DC has not only a connection to Argentina but also one to Hindú Club. This has an Uruguayan attachment to it with Facundo Gattas estalbished at Old Glory DC. Gattas played at RWC 2019 in Japan for Uruguay and is expected to play at RWC 2023 in France. Other Uruguayans have returned from the MLR to Peñarol for Super Rugby Americas 2023.
