Brazil Confirm Roster for Americas Rugby Championship

Brazil has confirmed its roster for the opening round of the Americas Rugby Championship. Despite the competition having started this past Saturday Brazil’s squad was not officially named until today.

Os Tupis are to open their Americas Rugby Championship campaign on Saturday, February 3 against Chile in Santiago. In round two Brazil host Uruguay in São Paulo. Their additional home matches are to be against the USA and Argentina XV in São José dos Campos. Before those two fixture Brazil will face Canada in Langford.

In the first two editions of the Americas Rugby Championship Brazil recorded a total of three victories. They were against the USA in 2016 and against Chile and Canada in 2017.

Returning to the squad are veteran tighthead prop Jardel Vettorato, second row Diego López, and flanker Michael Moraes. Utility back Laurent Bourda-Couhet is also included and is set to cover scrumhalf with Will Broderick only returning distributor from the November tests.

Wilton Rebolo also returns after several months on the sidelines. The former São José prop has switched clubs to Bandeirantes and will cover the hooker position with captain Yan Rosetti the only specialist in the squad. Rebolo has started one test match at hooker, in June 2016 against Kenya.

There is one uncapped player in the squad. Argentine-born loose forward Angelo Marcucci is included. He was also part of the November tour but did not earn selection to a match day squad.

Unavailable for the first match are scrumhalf Matheus Cruz, winger Stefano Giantorno, and star fullback Daniel Sancery. It’s hoped all three will return at a later date.

The futures of loose forward João Luiz da Ros and halfback Lucas Duque remain a mystery with both joining the staff during the European tour in November but no official confirmation of their retirement has yet come. Former skipper Nick Smith has called time on his test career, opting to move to England.

FORWARDS
Lucas Abud (Poli), Michel Gomes (Sâo José), Yan Rosetti (capt., CUBA, AR), Wilton Rebolo (Bandeirantes), Matheus Rocha (Jacareí), Jardel Vettorato (Farrapos), Cléber Dias (Poli), Diego López (Pasteur), Gabriel Paganini (Bandeirantes), Lucas Piero (Desterro), Arthur Bergo (SPAC), Matheus Daniel (Jacareí), Angelo Marcucci (Farrapos), Michael Moraes (Curitiba), André Arruda (Desterro)

BACKS
Laurent Bourda-Couhet (Bandeirantes), Will Broderick (Bandeirantes), Leonardo Ceccarelli (Jacareí), Josh Reeves (Bandeirantes), Moisés Duque (Sâo José), Felipe Sancery (Sâo José), De Wet van Niekerk (Poli), Lucas Muller (Desterro), Ariel Rodrigues (Jacareí), Robert Tenório (Pasteur), Lucas Tranquez (SPAC)

Fixtures and full roster details can be seen here.