Powerful Spain roster to face Teros and Eagles

Pablo Bouza has named a 42-man extended Spain roster for their upcoming test series against Uruguay, Fiji, and the USA. The ex-Pumas forward will have a large contingent of his France-based professionals available as the Leones begin preparations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Giant Toulouse prop Joël Merkler returns to contention for the first time in two years. Former skipper Jon Zabala gives the squad two first-class scrum anchors, with Vannes flyer Martín Alonso joining Toulon academy winger Alberto Carmona out wide. Brive lock or loose forward Asier Usárraga continues his return after ending a self-imposed exile during July’s tour of Samoa and Tonga.

There are two significant absentees up front. Incumbent skipper Mario Pichardie and veteran lock Josh Peters are both ruled out due to injury. Meanwhile Stade Français winger Sam Ezeala, born and raised in Barcelona, has yet to make himself available for the Leones.

Five uncapped players are named, all recent graduates of the national u20 side. Tighthead prop Jacobo Ruiz of the 2023 class is joined by hooker Diego González, flankers Pablo Guirao and Nicolás Moleti, and center Yago Fernández. The latter captained this year’s Junior World Championship entry.

 

FIXTURES
11/09 – vs Uruguay (Estadio Nacional, Madrid)
11/16 – vs Fiji (Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid)
11/23 – vs USA (Estadio Nacional, Madrid)

 

PROP
Thierry Futeu (Iberians) 34 caps
Joël Merkler (Toulouse, FR) 9 caps
Hugo Pirlet (Colomiers, FR) 2 caps
Jacobo Ruiz (El Salvador) uncapped
Lucas Santamaría (Tarbes, FR) 11 caps
Bernardo Vázquez (Aparejadores) 1 cap
Jon Zabala (Pau, FR) 29 caps

HOOKER
Álvaro Garcia (Stade Français, FR) 5 caps
Diego González (El Salvador) uncapped
Santiago Ovejero (Nice, FR) 14 caps

SECOND ROW
Alex Pérez (VRAC) 3 caps
Ignacio Piñeiro (Oyonnax, FR) 7 caps
Marc Sánchez (VRAC) 4 caps
Imanol Urraza (Lazio, IT) 5 caps
Asier Usárraga (Brive, FR) 9 caps

BACK ROW
Vicente Boronat (Aparejadores) 1 cap
Pepe Borraz (Cisneros) 2 caps
Brice Ferrer (Dax, FR) 10 caps
Matt Foulds (UE Santboiana) 32 caps
Pablo Guirao (Alcobendas) uncapped
Ekain Imaz (Biarritz, FR) 9 caps
Nicolás Moleti (Aparejadores) uncapped
Raphaël Nieto (Niort, FR) 5 caps
Álex Saleta (VRAC) 4 caps

SCRUMHALF
Kerman Aurrekoetxea (Biarritz, FR) 12 caps
Tani Bay (Aparejadores) 15 caps
Ike Irusta (Cisneros) 6 caps

FLYHALF
Bautista Güemes (Les Abelles) 26 caps
Gonzalo López (Massy, FR) 9 caps
Gonzalo Vinuesa (Cisneros) 15 caps

MIDFIELD
Pau Aira (Barça) 5 caps
Manuel Alfaro (Alcobendas) 1 cap
Alejandro Alonso (VRAC) 10 caps
Yago Fernández (Terenure, IR) uncapped
Álvar Gimeno (Ciencias) 39 caps
Iñaki Mateu (Aparejadores) 20 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Martín Alonso (Vannes, FR) 3 caps
JW Bell (El Salvador) 23 caps
Alberto Carmona (Toulon, FR) 8 caps
Federico Casteglioni (Aparejadores) 41 caps
Martiniano Cian (VRAC) 8 caps
Gauthier Minguillón (Valence Romans, FR) 19 caps