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Argentina’s roster for Rugby World Cup 2023 is back to 33-players. Both Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Santiago Grondona were forced out of the tournament with serious injuries. Their places on the roster have gone to Mayco Vivas and Joaquín Oviedo.
Mayco Vivas replaces Tetaz Chaparro. The 25-year-old joined the roster at their training camp in Portugal last week. He did so alongside Lucio Sordoni. Both were replacements for Argentina’s test match against Spain this past Saturday in Madrid.
Head Coach Michael Cheika experimented with tight head Joel Sclavi playing the match at loose head prop. Vivas was his understudy with Thomas Gallo rested. Sordini replaced Eduardo Gallo in the match. Gallo joins Sclavi and Francisco Gómez Kodela as the tight heads for the World Cup.
Vivas plays his rugby in England. He moved to Gloucester after previously having played Super Rugby for Los Jaguares and Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) for Los Jaguares XV.
Gloucester is home to three players on Argentina’s roster for the World Cup. Vivas joins second-rower Matías Alemanno and fly half Santiago Carreras. Despite being a late call-up based on injury, Vivas has already been a part of a history-making achievement. He was a replacement in Argentina’s historic win over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022.
Vivas is from Rafaela in Santa Fé province. He is a product of CRAR (Círculo Rafaelino de Rugby). He went through the domestic high performance system, rising to the top where he was playing Super Rugby at a young age. He has been a Puma since 2019 and presently has 18 test caps.
