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Like all competitors, Uruguay’s roster for Rugby World Cup 2023 contains 33 players. Andrés Vilaseca captains a group of players who all went through the domestic system. The roster is homegrown in entirety.
As noted by Uruguay rugby expert, Ignacio Chans, all thirty-three players are professionals. They can be subdivided into three categories. First, played abroad for professional teams (8). Second, played for Peñarol in Super Rugby Americas 2023 (21). Third, played for Los Teros 7’s on the World Circuit (4).
The foreign-based players from the 2022-2023 season played their rugby in France and in the USA. The French-based players were Andrés Vilaseca and Nicolás Freitas (Vannes), Santiago Arata (Castres), Manuel Leindekar (Bayonne), Agustín Ormaechea (Nice), Felipe Berchesi (Dax), and Germán Kessler (Province). Facundo Gattas played Major League Rugby (Old Glory DC).
Uruguay’s two players who featured for the American Raptors in Super Rugby Americas were not selected. Juan Echeverría (64 caps) and Diego Magno (105 caps) both played in prior World Cups but have been overtaken by Peñarol players.
The Uruguayan 7’s players are center Felipe Arcos Pérez, wingers Bautista Basso and Ignacio Facciolo, and fullback Baltazar Amaya.
The 21 Peñarol players cover most, but not all, position. While fly half Felipe Etcheverry played for Peñarol in 2023 he will continue his career at the Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby. Additional player movement will see Manuel Ardao and Tomás Inciarte joining him.
Of the thirty-three players on the roster thirty-two were born in Uruguay. The one player born abroad is Baltazar Amaya. He was born in Argentina and moved to Uruguay aged 8. He moved to Montevideo, the hometown of 27 other members of the 33 roster.
The players not from Montevideo are from the interior, or the Mainland. They are hooker Facundo Gattas, flanker Eric Dosantos and wing Gastón Mieres (Maldonado), N8 Juan Manuel Rodríguez (Salto), and tight head prop Reinaldo Piussi (Dolores).
Two Uruguayan clubs have each contributed seven players to the World Cup roster. Carrasco Polo and Old Boys combine for 42% of the roster. They are followed by Old Christians (5), Lobos de Maldonado (4), Los Cuervos (4), Champagnat (2), MVCC (2), Ceibos (1), Círculo de Tenis (1) and Trébol de Paysandú (1).
Center and captain Andrés Vilaseca has 75 caps. He debuted for Uruguay against Argentina in 2013. Flanker and vice Captain Santiago Civetta has 26 caps. He made his debut against Russia in 2019.
Gastón Mieres is the most capped player on the roster with 82 caps. Six others have 50 or more caps for Los Teros. Mateo Sanguinetti (80 caps), Rodrigo Silva (77 caps), Germán Kessler (62 caps), Ignacio Dotti (59 caps), Agustín Ormaechea (56 caps), and Nicolás Freitas (50 caps).
