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Uruguay’s rugby 7’s are officially at a cross roads. World Rugby’s decision to downsize to 12 core steams on next season’s World Sevens Series has affected Los Teros 7’s. Uruguay are out and will suffer financial implications as a result of no longer having core status.
It is a painful consequence for Los Teros 7’s; Uruguay proved to be a worthy competitors on the circuit. They joined regulars Kenya in losing core status. For Uruguay it last one season.
When Uruguay qualified for Los Teros 7’s there was reason to be both optimistic and pessimistic. On the one hand, there was a pathway for developing more players and a carrot of the Olympics. On the other hand, it could deplete the test team and affect Peñarol.
Felipe Arcos Pérez, Baltazar Amaya, Bautista Basso, Koba Brazionis, Carlos Deus, Tomás Etcheverry, José Iruleguy and Mateo Viñals were all on the Uruguayan 7’s roster. Of them only Carlos Deus returned home for Super Rugby Americas.
Peñarol was highly competitive in Super Rugby Americas 2023. There is little to suggest that Peñarol were less compared to in the 2022 Súper Liga American de Rugby (SLAR). The loss of players saw Peñarol having cover within their own roster. Furthermore, two Uruguayans who would otherwise have played for Peñarol featured for the American Raptors.
By not playing as a core team in the Sevens World Series Uruguay’s loss in that version of the game may actually be a victory. Uruguay may now be able to move ahead with the project of a second professional team.
The original plan for Uruguay was to have two teams in SLAR 2020. Soccer rivals Peñarol and Nacional were to be the competitors. Two factors involved in the decision on one team rather than two were operational costs and being competitive.
Are there enough players for a second team? Yes there are. First, the injection of players involved in 7’s in 2023 would facilitate a second Uruguayan team in Super Rugby Americas 2024. Second, Peñarol was overflowing in many positions.
Santiago Álvarez was the starting scrum-half with Juan Francisco Torres featuring as cover and Tomás Inciarte playing center. Juan Manuel Tafernaberry was on the roster and is an option for Uruguay.
In the back-row Manuel Diana, Manuel Ardao, Carlos Deus and Lucas Bianchi played regularly. Others were rotated or missing based on injury. They include Eric Dosantos, Santiago Civetta, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, and Manuel Rosmarino.
Uruguay’s domestic game is thriving. Uruguay recorded a 37% rise of player retention from u15 to adult level from 2019-2022. The domestic system continues to improve dramatically. Ten players aged 15-18 are selected from each of the five regional centers. 61 teams compete at u19 level or above and 8 teams are in the elite division of the Campeonato Uruguayo.
Peñarol’s 2023 roster was entirely homegrown. Every player is Uruguayan. Conversely, the 2022 roster had two Argentines, the 2021 roster had five and the 2022 roster had twelve foreigners. It would thus be entirely plausible for a second Uruguayan team to be based predominantly on homegrown players. Argentines could be recruited as required.
