Americas Players Who Can Make Test Debuts in November

The rosters for the 2024 November Internationals have all been finalized. They contain a range of players including veterans, established names, recent debutants and uncapped players. This article identifies the Americas players who can make their test debuts in November.

 

CANADA

Four Canadian players could make their test debut on tour. Loosehead prop Sam Miller, scrum-half Jesse Kilgour, center Noah Flesch, and outside back Rhys James are yet to see test action. All four are based with Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride centralized development side.

 

USA

Four USA Eagles roster members are uncapped. Hooker Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion) center Mark O’Keeffe (Chicago Hounds), winger Noah Brown (Chicago Hounds) and fullback Erich Storti (Anthem RC) could all debut in November.

A host of non-traveling replacements are also uncapped. One or more of them may yet be called-up to the roster. They are  second-rowers Mikey Grandy (Anthem RC), Nafi Ma’afu (Biarritz, FR) Rick Rose (Miami Sharks), and William Waguespack (NOLA Gold), flankers Collin Grosse (Old Glory DC) and Devin Short (Seattle Seawolves), scrum-halves Connor Buckley (Old Glory DC) and Oscar Lennon (New England Free Jacks) and fly half Christopher Hilsenback (FH, Biarritz).

 

BRAZIL

Emiliano Caffera’s roster to tour Hong Kong contains three uncapped players. They are Second-rower Hélder Bryan Lúcio, fly half Nicolas Azevedo and winger Théo Bastardie. Lúcio and Azevedo are uncapped but both featured for Brazil against the Argentina XV in September. Bastardie will have a language barrier to adjust too. The Frenchman qualifies for Brazil via a grandparent. He speaks neither Portuguese nor English.

 

URUGUAY

Rodolfo Ambrosio opted for a roster with plenty of youth. The new generation of Los Teros has three uncapped forwards and three uncapped backs. Second-rower Federico de Los Santos is on the roster five years after playing for Uruguay u19’s. Another surprise comes in the form of former Peñarol back-rower Francisco Suárez Folch who is out of La Plata.

French-based Arturo Ten Hoever has been called-up from the Uruguayan u20’s. Hoever, who was born and raised in France, decided to play for Uruguay. He qualifies for Uruguay via his father and speaks Spanish. He has played for Uruguay at junior level since 2022.

The three uncapped backs are scrum-half Pedro Hoblog, fly half Ícaro Amarilla and winger Juan González. Like Arturo Ten Hoever, the trio all make the jump from Los Teritos to Los Teros. Hoblog and Amarilla both had busy Super Rugby Americas 2024 seasons with Peñarol.

 

CHILE

With just 25 players, Chile’s roster is small. It nonetheless contains two uncapped players. Selknam front-rowers Norman Aguayo and Baltazar Gurruchaga may both debut for Los Cóndores. Aguayo is listed as a loose head prop and Gurrichage as a tight head prop.

 

ARGENTINA

Argentina’s extended roster from the training camp in Paris contained six uncapped players. Hooker Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton, IT) is involved following the retirement of Agustín Creevy. He was on the roster earlier this year as was Pampas inside center Justo Piccardo and winger Santiago Pernas. They could all debut for Los Pumas in November.

Three European-based Argentines trained with Los Pumas for the first time. Flanker Benjamín Grondona (Bristol Bears), and outside backs Benjamín Elizalde (Bristol Bears), and Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Zebre, IT) could also all but in November.