Argentina XV loaded with SLAR talent for APC

Argentina have named a roster loaded with SLAR names for the Americas Pacific Challenge. The Argentina XV will play matches in Montevideo, Uruguay on October 22, 26 and 30.

The Argentina XV roster will be under the command of Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. The former Pumas second-rower also took charge of Los Jaguares in SLAR this year. He has many names from SLAR including Ignacio Ruiz, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Rodrigo Fernández Criado, Francisco Gorrissen, Pedro Rubiolo, Martín Elías, Juan Pablo Castro, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, and Tomás Cubilla.

There are also names from rival SLAR teams including the Olímpia Lions, Peñarol, and Los Cafeteros Pro. Among them are Rodrigo Martínez, Mariano Muntaner, Conrado Roura, Lautaro Simes, Jerónimo Gómez Vara, Joaquín Pellandini, and Martín Bogado.

Perhaps the biggest talking point is the inclusion of Santiago Grondona. He was a rookie for Los Pumas in 2020 and earned a test start against Australia in the 2020 Rugby Championship. He subsequently joined the Newcastle Falcons in the English Premiership before returning to Argentine to undergo knee surgery. He will make his return to the field in the Americas Pacific Challenge.

Grondona will be in the company of other capped players. Pumas on the roster include Juan Pablo Zeiss, Francisco Gorrissen, Rodrigo Martínez, and Ignacio Mendy. There is also a place for former Super Rugby Jaguar Bautista Pedemonte. He remains in the frame for a test debut in November.

Fernández Lobbe put the roster together with Mario Ledesma. There were names requested by the Pumas Head Coach to prepare for November. Gorrissen, Grondona, Pedemonte, Elías and Mendy are likely instances.

The Argentina XV will begin the Americas Pacific Challenge against the USA Selects on October 22. Matches will follow against Paraguay ‘A’ on October 26 and against Uruguay ‘A’ on October 30.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

 

LH PROP
Rodrigo Martínez (Los Tordos / Olímpia Lions), Nicolás Revol (La Tablada / Olímpia Lions), Boris Wenger (Jockey Villa María)

HOOKER
Mariano Muntaner (Tucumán RC / Olímpia Lions), Ignacio Ruiz (Regatas Bella Vista / Jaguares XV), Nicolás Toth (Lomas Athletic)

TH PROP
Javier Coronel (Uni de La Plata), Gonzalo Hughes (SIC), Juan Pablo Zeiss (Los Matreros / Jaguares XV)

SECOND ROW
Rodrigo Fernández Criado (Belgrano / Jaguares XV), Pedro Rubiolo (CRAR / Jaguares XV), Lautaro Simes (Tala / Cafeteros Pro)

BACK ROW
Jerónimo Gómez Vara (Atlético del Rosario / Olímpia Lions), Francisco Gorrissen (Belgrano / Jaguares XV), Santiago Grondona (Champagnat), Bautista Pedemonte (Santiago Lawn Tennis), Conrado Roura (Palermo Bajo / Peñarol)

SCRUMHALF
Rafael Iriarte (CUBA / Jaguares XV), Joaquín Pellandini (BACRC / Olímpia Lions)

FLYHALF
Martín Elías (Atlético del Rosario / Jaguares XV), Santiago Mare (Regatas Bella Vista / Pumas Sevens)

CENTER
Juan Pablo Castro (San Juan / Jaguares XV), Tomás Cubilla (Alumni / Jaguares XV), Justo Piccardo (SIC)

WING
Martín Bogado (Jockey Córdoba / Olímpia Lions), Ignacio Mendy (Los Tilos / Pumas Sevens), Francisco Pisani Caride (Regatas Bella Vista)

FULLBACK
Gerónimo Prisciantelli (CASI / Jaguares XV), Santiago Vera Feld (San Andrés)