Crédito Foto: Víctor Montalva

South And North Americans Playing Rugby in Italy

A large number of Argentines play professional rugby in Italy. While they dominate the Americas player base in the Central European country they are certainly not alone. Chile, Uruguay and the USA all have players involved in Italy’s Serie A Elite, the national league. This article lists South and North Americans who play their rugby for Italian teams in the United Rugby Championship (URC) or in the Serie A Elite.

 

The URC contains teams from Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and South Africa. The multi regional and intercontinental league is unlike all other existing professional competitions. It combines the historic links of Celtic league with the Six Nations addition of Italy and the stray dog from South Africa.

The following details documents Americas players in Italy’s two URC teams. The players are listed according to existing eligibility. Geronimo Prisciantelli, for instance, cannot play for Italy in 2024 despite being heritage qualified. He played for the Argentina XV against Portugal and Georgia in 2022. He could change allegiance in mid-2025. Similarly, Ignacio Mendy was capped by his native Argentina in 2021.

 

PLAYER POS CLUB FROM ELIGIBILITY CAPPED
Juan Pitinatri TH Zebre Argentina Argentina + Italy
Guido Volpi FL Zebre Argentina Argentina + Italy
Bautista Stavile FL Zebre Argentina Argentina + Italy
Tomás Domínguez SH Zebre France France + Argentina + Italy
Gonzalo García SH Zebre Argentina Argentina AR
Geronimo Prisciantelli FH Zebre Argentina Argentina
Iván Nemer LH Benetton Argentina Italy IT
Thomas Gallo LO Benetton Argentina Argentina AR
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro LO Benetton Argentina Argentina AR
Bautista Bernasconi HK Benetton Argentina Argentina + Italy
Tomás Albornoz FH Benetton Argentina Argentina AR
Ignacio Brex CE Benetton Argentina Italy IT
Joaquín Riera CE Benetton Argentina Argentina + Italy
Ignacio Mendy WI Benetton Argentina Argentina AR

 

Italy’s domestic premiership has been rebranded over the decades. It has been the Divisione Nazionale, the Eccellenza, the Serie A1, the Super 10, the Top 12 and the Top 10. For the 2023-2024 season the competition was rebranded from the Top 10 to the Serie A Elite. 

The 2022-2023 Serie A takes place from October to April.  It is a nine team, league. Rugby supporters interested in following Chile and Uruguay will certainly have reason to follow the league. There are Rugby World Cup 2023 players from both sides of the South American continent playing in the league.

There is player from Ecuador in addition to a touch of a connection to the USA and a heavy attachment to Argentina. For the most part the Argentine players are lesser known; however, there is also a Rugby World Cup 2023 Puma in the league. There are also a number of Argentines who may be involved for the Argentina XV or Los Pumas in the coming years.

There are players from all corners of Argentina. There are players previously attached to Argentina for life who are now entitled to change allegiance.

PLAYER POS CLUB FROM ELIGIBILITY CAPPED
Matías Galliano LH Colorno Argentina Argentina + Italy
Diego Arbelo TH Colorno Uruguay Uruguay UY
Federico Gutiérrez LO Colorno Argentina Argentina
Bautista Grenon FL Colorno Argentina Argentina + Italy
Gregorio del Prete SH Colorno Argentina Argentina + Italy AR
Ignacio Ceballos FH Colorno Argentina Argentina
Agustín Travaglini WI Colorno Argentina Argentina
Diego Antl WI Colorno Argentina Argentina + Italy IT 7’s
José Ignacio Spinelli WI Fiandre Oro Roma Argentina Argentina
Romulo Acosta LH Lyons Piacenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Francisco Minervino LH Lyons Piacenza Argentina Argentina
Santiago Portillo N8 Lyons Piacenza Argentina Argentina
José Ignacio Chico SH Lyons Piacenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Joaquín Paz CE Lyons Piacenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Sebastien Zaridza CE Lyons Piacenza USA USA + Italy
Tomás Montilla HK Petrarca Argentina Argentina
Gonzalo Hughes TH Petrarca Argentina Argentina
Diego Sebastián Galleto LO Petrarca Argentina Argentina + Italy
Mariano Romanini N8 Petrarca Argentina Argentina + Italy
Rodrigo Fernández FH Petrarca Chile Chile CL
Marcos di Sanctis FB Petrarca Argentina Argentina + Italy
Vittorio Lastra LH Rovigo Chile Chile CL
Alfonso Zottola LO Rovigo Argentina Argentina + Italy
Lautaro Casado Sandri FL Rovigo Argentina Argentina + Italy
Lautaro Bazán Vélez SH Rovigo Argentina Argentina AR
Facundo Ferrario CE Rovigo Argentina Argentina + Italy
Rafael Andrés Lertora CE Rovigo Argentina Argentina + Italy
Ignacio Dogliani CE Rovigo Argentina Argentina + Italy
Javier Díaz LH Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina + Italy AR
Ulises Garziera LH Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina + Italy
Juan Ignacio Cruz HK Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina
Lucas Favre TH Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina
Benito Paolucci FL Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina + Italy
Nicolás Sbrocco FL Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina + Italy
Facundo Silva Soria FH Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina
Maximo Ledesma FH Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina
Facundo Panceyra CE Valorugby Emilia Argentina Argentina + Italy
Santiago Resino CE Valrugby Emilia Argentina Argentina
Facundo Molina LH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Rodrigo Oubiña LH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Roberto Tejerizo LH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Santiago Bellotti HK Viadana Argentina Argentina
Ignacio Dorronsoro HK Viadana Argentina Argentina
Juan Pablo Gamboa HK Viadana Argentina Argentina
Santiago Grippo HK Viadana Argentina Argentina
Adolfo Caila LO Viadana Argentina Argentina
Alfonso Zottola LO Viadana Argentina Argentina + Italy
Benito Paolucci FL Viadana Argentina Argentina + Italy
Federico Ruiz FL Viadana Argentina Argentina
Juan Wagenpfeil FL Viadana Argentina Argentina + Italy IT 7’s
Patrricio Baronio SH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Matías Sauze SH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Benjamín Madero FH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Martín Roger FH Viadana Argentina Argentina
Ignacio Dogliani CE Viadana Argentina Argentina + Italy
Antonio Orellana CE Viadana Argentina Argentina
Javier Rojas CE Viadana Argentina Argentina
Leopoldo Herrera WI Viadana Argentina Argentina
Juan Franco Morosini FB Viadana Argentina Argentina
Bryan Gutíerrez HK Rangers Vicenza Ecuador Ecuador EC
Roman Pretz HK Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina –
Facundo Avila Recio TH Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina
Imanol Urraza LO Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina + Italy + Spain
Conrado Roura N8 Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina
Octavio Gelos SH Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Fidel Sánchez Valarolo CE Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Agustín Galliano WI Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina + Italy
Luciano Gómez WI Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina
Pedro Mercerat FB Rangers Vicenza Argentina Argentina
Tobias Williams FB Rangers Vicenza Italy Argentina + Italy

 

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Formally created in June 2015, this website's goal is to increase media exposure of the Tier 2 rugby nations, and create a hub with a focus on the stories of rugby in the Americas - North, Central and South.

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