Experienced Uruguay team for Pacific Challenge

Head coach Esteban Meneses has included nine veterans of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in his Uruguay ‘A’ team to take part in the upcoming Americas Pacific Challenge, with 13 taking part in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship. The strong core of the team is backed by some of Uruguay’s most promising youngsters, with five still to win their first test cap. Only one team member play their rugby outside of Uruguay – 19-year-old Oyonnax Academy lock Manuel Leindekar.

First choice props Mateo Sanguinetti and Mario Sagario will lead the way up front, with the versatile Diego Magno and Fernando Bascou also vastly experienced. Goal kicker Jerónimo Etcheverry returns for the first time since the World Cup, and Joaquin Prada leads the midfield. Flyhalves Manuel Blengio and Juan Manuel Cat will now be teammates after the two went head-to-head on the weekend in the Uruguayan club final. The 20-year-old Cat is one of the country’s most celebrated prospects.

The new names are all graduates of the national u20 program. Leindekar, Cat, hooker Marcos Chamyán and second row Lorenzo Surraco all featured in the 2016 age-grade side, while flanker Santiago Hernández graduated from the side in 2012. Hernández has since represented the national sevens side, taking part in the Olympic qualifiers in 2015.

Uruguay will open their tournament against Samoa on Saturday, October 8. A local match against neighbors Argentina is next on October 12, with their closing round against the USA on October 16. All matches will be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. Streaming details have yet to be confirmed by World Rugby.

FORWARDS
Diego Arbelo (CTM), Juan Echeverría (Old Christians), Mario Sagario (Carrasco Polo), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos), Ignacio Secco (Trébol Paysandú), Marcos Chamyán (PSG), Diego Ayala (MVCC), Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR), Lorenzo Surraco (Old Christians), Fernando Bascou (PSG), Joaquín Dell’Acqua (MVCC), Santiago Hernández (Carrasco Polo), Diego Magno (MVCC), Gonzalo Soto (Carrasco Polo)

BACKS
Santiago Arata (Old Christians), Guillermo Lijtenstein (Trébol Paysandú), Manuel Blengio (Old Christians), Juan Manuel Cat (Old Boys), Nicolás Freitas (Carrasco Polo), Facundo Klappenbach (Champagnat), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Mauro Daverio (MVCC), Federico Favaro (Old Christians), Santiago Gibernau (Carrasco Polo), Jerónimo Etcheverry (Carrasco Polo), Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo)

FIXTURES (all times local Montevideo)
Oct 8 – vs Samoa ‘A’ – 4:30pm
Oct 12 – vs Argentina XV – 4:30pm
Oct 16 – vs USA Selects – 2:15pm