Argentina To Pick Overseas Players Without Restrictions

Argentina is to pick overseas players for international duty without restrictions. The policy is set to be utilized in 2019 and moving forward. It will end the blockade on players based in Europe from playing for Los Pumas as well as the process of requesting release from clubs.

This will mean that once again Argentina are able to consider all foreign-based players for test matches. The policy was initiated by the UAR under Head Coach Daniel Hourcade following RWC 2015. It proved to be unsuccessful as Argentina was denying itself of leading names and lacked innovation to come away with wins against Tier 1 rivals.

Ledesma replaced Hourcade following the 2018 June Internationals and went about ending the shut-out on European club players. It would be used in part rather than in full as slowly players were called-up to join the Jaguares players on the roster.

The first was Juan Figallo who started both matches against South Africa and made the scrum into a weapon. The Mendoza test match also featured Facundo Bosch who debuted for Argentina from the bench. He did so in place of Julián Montoya who was missing to injury with the next in line at Jaguares, Diego Fortuny not retained following his first cap.

Both Figallo and Bosch would return to Europe as their release was temporary yet as the Rugby Championship continued Ledesma would add further players. The next was Gastón Córtes who would feature from the bench away to New Zealand but would be left out altogether against Australia with rookie Santiago Medrano preferred.

For the final games Ramiro Herrera was added, making it a third tight head prop called-up from Europe. The lack of options within Los Jaguares could not be highlighted any further.

Jaguares’ players had been notably favored which saw (a) instant selection from Jaguars to Pumas and (b) the holding back of players. In some cases a player could break through such as Gonzalo Bertranou and Bautista Ezcurra moving above Martín Landajo and Santiago González Iglesias respectively.

In far more cases, the opposite is what transpired. In the second-row, for instance, Tomás Lavanini, and Guido Petti have been the starting Jaguares combination from 2016-2019. The bench spot has been occupied by Matías Alemanno and no other player able to sustain a spot.

Ledesma’s predecessor at Jaguares, Raúl Pérez filled the spot when players were injured with Marcos Kremer, and Benjamin Macome. In 2018 Ledesma moved Kremer to flanker and the position is where he is to stay. For the November tour this saw Mariano Galarza called-up. He would be the final player based outside of Argentina to earn a cap in 2018.

With 2019 being RWC year the trial period is now over. Ledesma will pick overseas players without restrictions. The position on selection was published today by Midi Olympique as part of an interview with the Pumas Head Coach.

Ledesma told the French publication that Argentina will select players from abroad whenever they want them. This will see a change to that of 2018 which involved a negotiation process between the UAR and the club in question. For 2019 and beyond there will be no more negotiation with release instead required as stipulated by World Rugby under Regulation 9.

Prior to this announcement there were already many names to consider for Argentina this year. Now, though, it gives all playing abroad a clear directive that if they play well they have every chance of being selected. It also tells those at Jaguares to play their best throughout or they may very well miss out.

Of those Ledesma used from Europe in 2018 all but Córtes are well placed to be selected for RWC 2019. Sustained form and overall abilities make Juan Imhoff, Santiago Cordero, and Facundo Isa extremely likely to also be picked. Meanwhile expect two fly halves from Nicolás Sánchez, Benjamín Urdapilleta, and Patricio Fernández to make the roster.