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Paraguay will field a team in Super Rugby Americas 2023. Unlike in the three editions of the Super Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR), the Paraguayan team will be Yacare. Changes see Yacare replacing the Olímpia Lions. This happens after the end of the sponsorship agreement between Olímpia and Paraguayan Rugby.
The Olímpia Lions were Semi Finalists in SLAR 2021. The solid season was not replicated in SLAR 2022 with Colombian side Los Cafeteros Pro reaching the final four instead. Super Rugby Americas 2023 will see the Paraguayan side fielding a team with many Paraguayans and Argentines. The roster is made up of the two nationalities.
Click here to access the complete 2023 Yacare player roster.
Click here to access the Super Rugby Americas home page.
COACHING STAFF
While the team has gone from the Olímpia Lions to Yacare, the head coach is unchanged. 56-year-old Ricardo Augusto Le Fort will coach the Paraguayan professional side for the second consecutive year. As a player Le Fort played 16 tests at hooker for Argentina from 1990-1995 including starts against Australia and Wales at RWC 1991. Le Fort brings with him years of coaching experience with his work in the scrum being top class.
RECRUITMENT
The roster features the prominent name of Lucas Noguera Paz. He is back in South America after a long time in Europe. He started for Los Pumas against Namibia at RWC 2015. Also included are Mariano Muntaner and Facundo Pomponio who have played in Spain. Pumitas center Tomás Acosta Pimentel will again play for the Paraguayan side as will Argentina XV scrum-half Ignacio Inchauspe. Forward Felipe Puertas arrives in Paraguay after having played SLAR 2022 for Los Cafeteros Pro. The flanker from Los Tilos was outstanding for the Colombian side in 2022.
IMPORTS
30 of the 44 players are either from Paraguay or eligible to play for Paraguay. There are a total of 21 Argentines on the roster, 7 of which are eligible to play for Paraguay. The overall balance of the roster continues the move to make the Paraguayan professional team less dependent on foreign players. On the one hand, of the inaugural SLAR fixture involving a Paraguayan side no player was Paraguayan. On the other hand, Paraguayans are the majority on the 2023 roster.
POSSIBLE STARTING XV
1 Lucas Noguera Paz
2 Mariano Muntaner
3 Facundo Pomponio
4 Felipe Villagrán
5 Mariano Garcete
6 Juan Pérez Rachel
7 Lautaro Brítez
8 Felipe Puertas
9 Ignacio Inchauspe
10 Sebastián Urbieta
11 Juan González
12 Gianfranco Parodi
13 Tomás Acosta Pimentel
14 Arturo López
15 Federico Cacciabúe
