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Uruguay has announced a 36-man roster for the July International. Los Teros will have an unprecedented three-match home series against three giants of the sport: France, Argentina and Scotland.
Uruguay now have a new head coach; Rodolfo Ambrosio replaced Esteban Meneses in April. It saw one Argentine replacing another. Ambrosio coached Brazil during the golden age. He was appointed Head Coach of Brazil in 2014 and left the post as the most successful Brazilian coach in history. Under Ambrosio Brazil defeated the USA in 2016; Canada in 2017, and 2019; Belgium in 2017; Portugal in 2017, and 2019; the Argentina XV in 2018; and the Georgia XV in 2018.
Ambrosio’s coaching staff was finalized last week. The Uruguay coaching staff for 2024 includes Uruguayan Joaquín Pastore and Pumas Leonardo Senatore and Juan Figallo. The trio all played at Rugby World Cups as did Ambrosio.
| JULY 2024 INTERNATIONALS – URUGUAY FIXTURES |
Wed, July 10
VS 
(Montevideo, UY)
Sat, July 20 VS
(Maldonado, UY)
Sat, July 27 VS
(Montevideo, UY)
| RETURNEES AND NEW NAMES |
Ambrosio’s first Teros roster sees the return of a big name in Uruguayan rugby: Nicolás Freitas. He underwent surgery following Rugby World Cup 2023. Freitas featured prolifically for Uruguay at the tournament. He impressed with tries and started in all matches for Los Teros. They were against France in Lille, against Italy in Nice, against Namibia in Lyonand against New Zealand also in Lyon. His tries were against France and Italy.
The most capped Tero in history is also back. Diego Magno was not selected for the World Cup but has been recalled by Ambrosio. Magno had a strong season for the American Raptors; he was the starting N8. His most regular position for Uruguay has been in the second-row.
There are also five new names from Super Rugby Americas. Peñarol hooker Joaquín Myszka, second-rower Agustín Morales, back-rower Manuel Rosmarino, inside center Joaquín Suárez and fullback Juan Bautista Hontou will all have the opportunity to earn their first test caps for Uruguay.
| MISSING PLAYERS |
Facundo Gattas featured in Rugby World Cups 2019 and 2023 for Uruguay. He has 42 caps for Los Teros but he is not on the roster. Also missing is long-time serving fullback Rodrigo Silva who has retired.
Veteran fly half Felipe Berchesi and scrum-half Agustín Ormaechea are also missing. The former is focusing on his post-rugby career while the later played very little rugby this past season for his French club.
Juan Andrés Zuccarino has been groomed as the replacement for Berchesi. He was Peñarol’s regular starting fly half this year. He suffered a season-ending injury and may not play for Uruguay this year at all. Ícaro Amarilla started the three regular season places in his place as well as the Semi Final. He is with Los Teritos at the World Rugby Junior Trophy in Scotland.
| FOREIGN-BASED TEROS |
The improvement, on and off the field, of Uruguay over recent Rugby World Cup cycles has resulted in more opportunities for players abroad. Ambrosio’s first roster sees players included who, in 2024, played in the Top 14, Pro D2, Serie A, and Major League Rugby (MLR).
Prop Diego Arbelo played in Italy while Andrés Vilaseca, Santiago Arata, Germán Kessler, and Manuel Leindekar played in France. The MLR contingent included Ignacio Dotti, Reinaldo Piussi, Ignacio Péculo, Guillermo Pujadas, Manuel Ardao, Felipe Etcheverry, and Tomás Inciarte. Diego Magno played Super Rugby Americas in Colorado.
| URUGUAY ROSTER – FORWARDS |
PROP
Diego Arbelo (Colorno, IT; 21 caps)
Mathias Franco (Peñarol; 4 caps)
Ignacio Péculo (Chicago Hounds, US; 16 caps)
Mateo Perillo (Peñarol; 2 caps)
Reinaldo Piussi (Miami Sharks, US; 6 caps)
Mateo Sanguinetti (Peñarol; 84 caps)
HOOKER
Germán Kessler (Rouen, FR; 65 caps)
Joaquín Myszka (Peñarol; uncapped)
Guillermo Pujadas (Chicago Hounds, US; 31 caps)
SECOND-ROW
Felipe Aliaga (Peñarol; 8 caps)
Ignacio Dotti (Old Glory DC, US; 62 caps)
Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR; 32 caps)
Diego Magno (American Raptors, US; 105 caps)
Agustín Morales (Peñarol; uncapped)
FLANKER
Manuel Ardao (Miami Sharks, US; 27 caps)
Lucas Bianchi (Peñarol; 12 caps)
Santiago Civetta (Peñarol; 30 caps)
Manuel Rosmarino (Peñarol; uncapped)
N8
Carlos Deus (Peñarol; 6 caps)
Manuel Diana (Peñarol; 41 caps)
| URUGUAY ROSTER – BACKS |
SCRUM-HALF
Santiago Álvarez (Peñarol; 7 caps)
Santiago Arata (Castres, FR; 49 caps)
FLY HALF
Felipe Etcheverry (Miami Sharks, US; 24 caps)
Matías D’Avanzo (Old Boys)*
INSIDE CENTER
Juan Manuel Alonso (Peñarol; 10 caps)
Joaquín Suárez (Peñarol; uncapped)
Andrés Vilaseca (Vannes; 79 caps)
OUTSIDE CENTER
Felipe Arcos Pérez (Peñarol; 10 caps)
Tomás Inciarte (Miami Sharks, US; 35 caps)
WING
Bautista Basso (Los Teros 7’s; 7 caps)
Ignacio Facciolo (Peñarol; 1 cap)
Nicolás Freitas (unattached; 54 caps)
Gastón Mieres (Peñarol; 84 caps)
Mateo Viñals (Peñarol; 4 caps)
FULLBACK
Ignacio Álvarez (Peñarol; 1 cap)
Baltazar Amaya (Los Teros 7’s; 11 caps)
Juan Bautista Hontou (Peñarol; uncapped)
* Invitational
| FOREIGN-BORN AND HOMEGROWN TEROS |
All players on Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2023 roster were homegrown. Thirty-two were born in Uruguay and one player was born in Argentina. Baltazar Amaya moved to Uruguay aged 8. The Uruguayan roster for the July 2024 Internationals sees a continuation. Uruguay’s roster is made-up of homegrown players.
