Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Selection Radar

Rodolfo Ambrosio’s rookie campaign as Head Coach of Uruguay was against France, Argentina and Scotland in July. Selections were not entirely a continuation from the World Cup and were influenced by availability including due to the Olympic Games. This article investigates the picture now and who is and is not on Uruguay’s selection radar for Rugby World Cup 2027. Los Teros will begin their qualifying campaign in 2025.

 

MISSING IN 2024

Hooker Facundo Gattas (42 caps) featured in Rugby World Cups 2019 and 2023 for Uruguay. He prepared for MLR play-off’s rather than representing Uruguay in July.

Diego Magno (107 caps) retired after facing Scotland. Eric Dosantos (27 caps) retired after the World Cup as did Rodrigo Silva (78 caps). Felipe Berchesi (49 caps) is focusing on his post-rugby career and Agustín Ormaechea (60 caps) was not selected in July. Captain Andrés Vilaseca (81 caps) has hinted at retiring before 2027. Nicolás Freitas (56 caps) recovered from surgery to play in July.

Fly half Juan Andrés Zuccarino (3 caps) suffered a season-ending injury playing for Peñarol. Ícaro Amarilla (uncapped) started in his place, including in the Semi Final. In July he played for Los Teritos at the World Rugby Junior Trophy.

Baltazar Amaya (12 caps), Felipe Arcos Pérez (11 caps), Bautista Basso (8 caps), and Ignacio Facciolo (1 cap) featured at the Paris Olympics. Amaya, Arcos Pérez, and Basso played against France but were not available to face Argentina or Scotland in July. Gastón Mieres (84 caps) missed July through injury.

 

2024 SHAKE-UP

Ignacio Peculo (19 caps) moved from tight head to loose head against Scotland. Mateo Sanguinetti (87 caps) had struggled in the scrum against France and Argentina. The move looms as permanent with Diego Arbelo (24 caps) and Reinaldo Piussi (9 caps) as tight head options.

Joaquín Myszka (1 cap) debuted against Scotland in Montevideo. Facundo Gattas and Germán Kessler were both with their foreign clubs. Myszka had a good rookie season of Super Rugby Americas.

Carlos Deus (9 caps) started at N8 against Scotland. In Super Rugby Americas he overtook Manuel Diana (44 caps) who had started the earlier test matches. Manuel Leindekar (35 caps) was elevated to the captaincy and impressed in the role against Scotland.

Tomás Inciarte (38 caps) was a chameleon in July. He was the replacement scrum-half against France, the starting outside center against Argentina and the starting inside center against Scotland.

Juan Bautista Hontou (2 caps) was a try scorer on debut against Argentina in July. Joaquín Suárez (2 caps) also debuted as an outside back and Santiago Gini (1 cap) and Ignacio Álvarez (4 caps) helped fill the void of backs missing to the Paris Olympic Games. Gini played for both Los Teritos and Los Teros in July.

 

URUGUAY’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 RADAR

The initial RWC 2023 roster had 18 forwards and 15 backs. This model will be utilized here to project the selections as they most likely appear to be. Considerations include (a) Rodolfo Ambrosio’s selections thus far, (b) player age in 2027, (c) overall form and class of players across all positions and (d) stand-out domestic-based / Super Rugby Americas and u20 performers.

FORWARDS: (18)

LOOSE HEAD
1 Ignacio Péculo
2 Mateo Sanguinetti (Peñarol)
On Standby: Felipe Pick (Teritos)

HOOKER
1 Germán Kessler (Rouen, FR)
2 Guillermo Pujadas (Chicago Hounds, US)
3 Joaquín Myszka (Peñarol)
Standby: Facundo Gattas (Old Glory DC, US)

TIGHT HEAD
1 Reinaldo Piussi (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Diego Arbelo (Rouen, FR)
3 Mathias Franco (Peñarol)
Standby: Santiago Martirene (Teritos)

SECOND-ROW
1 Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR)
2 Felipe Aliaga (Peñarol)
3 Ignacio Dotti (Old Glory DC, US)
4 Agustín Morales (Peñarol)
Standby: Franco Bertini (Teritos)

BACK-ROW
1 Manuel Ardao (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Carlos Deus (Peñarol)
3 Lucas Bianchi (Peñarol)
4 Manuel Romarino (Peñarol)
5 Manuel Diana (Peñarol)
6 Santiago Civetta (Peñarol)
Standby: Juan Manuel Dotta (Teritos)

BACKS: (15)

SCRUM-HALF
1 Santiago Arata (Castres, FR)
2 Pedro Hoblog (Teritos)
3 Santiago Álvarez (Peñarol)
Standby: Juan Manuel Tafernaberry (Teros 7s)

FLY HALF
1 Felipe Etcheverry (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Ícaro Amarilla (Teritos)
Standby: Francisco Landauer (Teritos)

CENTERS
1 Felipe Arcos Pérez (Teros 7s)
2 Joaquín Suárez (Peñarol)
3 Juan Manuel Alonso (Peñarol)
4 Nicolás Freitas (unattached)
Standby: Santiago Gini (Teritos)

BACK-THREE
1 Baltazar Amaya (Teros 7s)
2 Bautista Basso (Teros 7s)
3 Juan Bautista Hontou (Peñarol)
4 Mateo Viñals (Teros 7s)
5 Ignacio Álvarez (Peñarol)
Standby: Santiago Terra (Teritos)

 

PROJECTED TEROS RWC 2027 LINE-UP

#	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION	CAPS
1	Ignacio Péculo	Chicago Hounds (US)	LH	19
2	Germán Kessler	Rouen (FR)	HK	67
3	Reinaldo Piussi	Miami Sharks (US)	TH/LH	9
4	Felipe Aliaga	Peñarol	LO	11
5	Manuel Leindekar (capt.)	Oyonnax (FR)	LO	35
6	Manuel Ardao	Miami Sharks (US)	FL	30
7	Lucas Bianchi	Peñarol	FL/LO	15
8	Carlos Deus	Peñarol	N8	9
9	Santiago Arata	Castres (FR)	SH	50
10	Felipe Etcheverry	Miami Sharks (US)	FH	27
11	Bautista Basso	Los Teros 7s	WI	8
12	Joaquín Suárez	Peñarol	CE	2
13	Felipe Arcos Pérez	Los Teros 7s	CE/WI	11
14	Juan Bautista Hontou	Peñarol	WI	2
15	Baltazar Amaya	Los Teros 7s	FB	12
16	Guillermo Pujadas	Chicago Hounds (US)	HK	34
17	Mateo Sanguinetti	Peñarol	LH	87
18	Diego Arbelo	Rouen (FR)	TH	24
19	Ignacio Dotti	Old Glory DC (US)	LO	63
20	Manuel Rosmarino	Peñarol	LO/FL	–
21	Manuel Diana	Peñarol	N8	44
22	Pedro Hoblog	Los Teritos	SH	–
23	Ícaro Amarilla	Los Teritos	FH/FB	–

 

PROJECTED URUGUAYAN ALTERNATE RWC 2027 LINE-UP

#	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION	CAPS
1	Mateo Sanguinetti	Peñarol	LH	87
2	Guillermo Pujadas	Chicago Hounds (US)	HK	34
3	Diego Arbelo	Rouen (FR)	TH	24
4	Ignacio Dotti	Old Glory DC (US)	LO	63
5	Agustín Morales	Peñarol	LO	–
6	Manuel Rosmarino	Peñarol	FL	–
7	Santiago Civetta (capt.)	Peñarol	FL	33
8	Manuel Diana	Peñarol	N8	44
9	Pedro Hoblog	Los Teritos	SH	–
10	Ícaro Amarilla	Los Teritos	FH	–
11	Bautista Basso	Los Teros 7s	WI	8
12	Juan Manuel Alonso	Peñarol	CE	12
13	Nicolás Freitas	Los Teros 7s	WI	56
14	Mateo Viñals	Los Teros 7s	WI	5
15	Ignacio Álvarez	Peñarol	FB	4
16	Joaquín Myszka	Peñarol	HK	1
17	Ignacio Péculo	Chicago Hounds (US)	LH	19
18	Mathias Franco	Peñarol	TH	4
19	Manuel Leindekar	Oyonnax (FR)	LO	35
20	Manuel Ardao	Miami Sharks (US)	FL	30
21	Santiago Álvarez	Peñarol	SH	9
22	Felipe Etcheverry	Miami Sharks (US)	FH	27
23	Baltazar Amaya	Los Teros 7s	FB	12