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Felipe Contepomi trained with a 30-man roster this week. It took place during a break in the European elite club season and concluded 100 days before Argentina’s opening test match of 2025. The camp was an opportunity to establish a framework for 2025; however, a scrum-half shortage was evident.
The camp featured Gonzalo García as the only scrum-half. García, Lautaro Bazán Vélez and Gonzalo Bertranou were the three scrum-halves who played under Contepomi in 2024. The former is now focused on Rugby 7’s and the latter was not selected due to him playing Major League Rugby (MLR) and not in Europe.
Bertranou is one of two Rugby World Cup 2023 Pumas scrum-halves in MLR. The other is Tomás Cubelli who turns 36 this year and did not play under Contepomi in 2024. Bertranou is likely to be back again this year but Bazán Vélez’s decision still leaves one scrum-half vacancy.
The MLR is part of the Pumas puzzle; it helps provide clarity to the scrum-half situation. Contepomi’s selections will also call-upon the consideration of players closer to home. There is reason to suggest that competition for the scrum-half vacancy is heating up from talent in Super Rugby Americas (SRA).
At least six Argentina scrum-halves are putting up their hands in SRA 2025. Eliseo Morales is capped and fellow Pampas scrum-half Ignacio Inchauspe is a reliable veteran in the league. Agustín Moyano’s impressive form in 2024 has continued in 2025. Simón Benítez Cruz’ move to Tarucas has boosted team and player while Juan Cruz Strada and Tomás Di Biase have been shining bright for Yacare and Peñarol.
The scrum-half player pool from SRA is about more than identifying talent. Contepomi’s Pumas will play thirteen test matches in 2025 starting with the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, Ireland on June 20. The MLR Final will be on June 28, meaning Bertranou is not guaranteed to be available.
The United Rugby Championship (URC) Final will be on June 14 as will the the English Premiership Final. The Super Rugby Americas Final will be on June 13 while the MLR Final and the Top 14 Final will be on June 28.
The dates are going to influence the make-up of the roster in general. For instance, a Top 14 Final between Toulouse and Bordeaux would mean Santiago Chocobares, Efraín Elías, Juan Cruz Mallía and Guido Petti miss out on facing the British & Irish Lions.
Regardless of who is involved in the different club finals it is certain that there are vacant scrum-half spots up for grabs. It is safe to assume that three scrum-halves will be selected which means that two from SRA is plausible.
 ARGENTINA SCRUM-HALF – PLAYER POOL 2025 |
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| GONZALO BERTRANOU | TOMÁS CUBELLI | GONZALO GARCÍA |
| Age: 31 | Age: 35 | Age: 25 |
| Height: 1.78m | Height: 1.76m | Height: 1.73m |
| Weight: 85 kg | Weight: 81 kg | Weight: 79 kg |
| Debut: vs Paraguay (2015) | Debut: vs Uruguay (2010) | Debut: vs New Zealand (2021) |
| Caps: 67 | Caps: 93 | Caps: 11 |
| Club: Los Angeles (US) | Club: Miami Sharks (US) | Club: Zebre Parma (IT) |
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| IGNACIO INCHAUSPE | ELISEO MORALES | AGUSTÍN MOYANO |
| Age: 27 | Age: 27 | Age: 21 |
| Height: 1.71m | Height: 1.77m | Height: 1.73m |
| Weight: 77 kg | Weight: 79kg | Weight: 75 kg |
| Debut: – | Debut: vs Wales (2022) | Debut: – |
| Caps: – | Caps: 1 | Caps: – |
| Club: Pampas | Club: Pampas | Club: Dogos |
Foto: Prensa UAR
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| SIMÓN BENÍTEZ CRUZ | TOMÁS DI BIASE | JUAN CRUZ STRADA |
| Age: 25 | Age: 20 | Age: 22 |
| Height: 1.77m | Height: 1.75m | Height: 1.76m |
| Weight: 79kg | Weight: 79kg | Weight: 84 kg |
| Debut: – | Debut: – | Debut: – |
| Caps: – | Caps: – | Caps: – |
| Club: Tarucas | Club: Peñarol (UY) | Club: Yacare (PY) |
