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Selknam have released a long-list roster ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Americas season. A 46-man roster was named; one including many names from the World Cup as well as plenty of uncapped Chileans who are rising through the domestic system.
The 24-time capped Clemente Saavedra will captain the side. He replaces Santiago Videla who has moved to Major League rugby (MLR) as has fellow former captain Martín Sigren. Saavedra’s twin brother, Domingo Saavedra, will also play in MLR 2024.
Clemente Saavedra will lead a side dominated by his countrymen. 42 of the players are Chileans. The four foreign players are Argentines. Federico Albrisi, Rafael Iriarte, Nicolas Roger and Iñaki Delguy all join with prior Super Rugby Americas experiences. Roger has also previously played in Italy while Saaevdra previously played in Spain.
Super Rugby Americas 2024 is the beginning of a new cycle. For Chile it is the start of building towards the qualifying rounds for Rugby World Cup 2027. Selknam’s 2023 roster dominated Chile’s World Cup 33.
World Cup props Javier Carrasco, Iñaki Gurruchaga, Esteban Inostroza, Salvador Lues are all on Selknam’s roster as are hookers Tomás Dussaillant, and Diego Escobar. This is sure to provide a solid platform up front.
Second-rowers Javier Eissmann, Santiago Pedrero and Augusto Sarmiento also all played at the World Cup. Saavedra played both second-row at the tournament. Additional World Cup back-rowers on Selknam’s 2024 roster are Raimundo Martínez, and Alfonso Escobar.
Scrum-half Marcelo Torrealba and utility back Benjamín Videla were part of Chile’s creative players at the World Cup. Center Matías Garafulic is also on the 2024 Selknam roster as are wingers Cristóbal Game, José Ignacio Larenas and Franco Velarde. The veteran Larenas made history at the World Cup by becoming the first Chilean to 50 test caps.
On the flip side, other veterans are not on the roster. Missing names include second-rower Pablo Huete, flanker Ignacio Silva, center Pablo Casas and fullback Francisco Urroz. 27-year-old Thomas Orchard is notably absent.
Selknam underperformed in Super Rugby Americas 2023. Decisions were made to rotate players throughout the season. This ultimately aided World Cup preparations and selections. It is expected that a core group of players will get regular game time in Super Rugby 2024.
SUPER RUGBY AMERICAS 2024 – SELKNAM ROSTER
PROP
Norman Aguayo
Javier Carrasco
Simón Donoso
Ignacio González
Baltazar Gurruchaga
Iñaki Gurruchaga
Esteban Inostroza
Salvador Lues
Marcos López
Matías Vega
HOOKER
Jorge Delgado
Tomás Dussaillant
Diego Escobar
SECOND-ROW
Federico Albrisi
Javier Eissmann
Santiago Pedrero
Augusto Sarmiento
FLANKER
Santiago Edwards
Andrés Kuzmanic
Raimundo Martínez
Clemente Saavedra (capt.)
N8
Alfonso Escobar
Ernesto Tchimino
Inti Ubeda
SCRUM-HALF
Sebastián Bianchi
Rafael Iriarte
Marcelo Torrealba
Benjamín Videla
FLY HALF
Nicolás Roger
Tomás Salas
Iñaki Tuset
CENTER
Clemente Armstrong
Martín Dumay
Martín Escobar
Matías Garafulic
Nicolás Saab
Luca Strabucchi
WING
Iñaki Delguy
Cristóbal Game
Nicolás Garafulic
José Ignacio Larenas
Clemente Ulloa
Franco Velarde
FULLBACK
Damián Fliegel
Federico Kennedy
Felipe Méndez
