Chile build on RWC Qualifiers in Americas Pacific Challenge

Fresh on the back of advancing to the Americas 2 Final of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers, Chile is preparing to travel to Uruguay. Chile ‘A’ will play in the Americas Pacific Challenge later this month in Montevideo. The team from west of the Andes will play matches from October 22 to 30 against Paraguay ‘A’, Uruguay ‘A’, and the USA Selects.

Chile ‘A’ vs USA Selects will be an early look at what is to be the decisive series next July, though only a handful of players from either side are likely to be involved. The winner on aggregate of the Chile vs USA series in July 2022 will qualify for RWC 2023, joining Argentina, England, Japan, and Samoa in Pool D.

The Chile A roster contains both fresh names and some heroes from the RWC qualifying win over Canada. Vittorio Lastra, Salvador Lues, Raimundo Martínez, and Thomas Orchard are all to play in the Americas Pacific Challenge. Also included are several SLAR extended squad members.

Orchard is the only new addition from the preliminary squad named last month. Notably the squad numbers only 28 players, while the USA and Argentina have each named 29, thus an additional player may be added prior to the tournament.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

PROP: Mauricio Gómez (Old Lions), Baltazar Gurruchaga (Old Johns), Esteban Inostroza (PWCC / Selknam), Vittorio Lastra (Old Macks), Salvador Lues (COBS / Selknam)

HOOKER: Jorge Delgado (Uni Católica), Diego Escobar (COBS), Raimundo Martínez (PWCC / Selknam)

SECOND ROW: Jaime Paredes (Alumni), Santiago Pedrero (COBS / Selknam), Manuel Ripamonti (Old Georgians), Maximiliano Silva (Uni Católica / Selknam)

BACK ROW: Agustín Fernández (PWCC), Joaquín Milesi (PWCC), Thomas Orchard (Old Lions / Selknam), Agustín Pérez (Sporting), Ernesto Tchimino (DOBS)

SCRUMHALF: Lukas Carvallo (PWCC / Selknam), Benjamín Videla (Old Boys)

FLYHALF: Tomás Álvarado (Old Boys), Diego Warnken (Alumni)

CENTER: Clemente Armstrong (DOBS), Gaspar Moltedo (Old Macks), Juan Ignacio Piña (PWCC)

WING/FULLBACK: Cristóbal Game (Old Johns), Baltazar Jana (Alumni), Luca Strabucchi (Alumni), Vicente Tredinick (Alumni)