Jaguares Name 44-man Roster for Super Rugby

A 44-man roster has been named to play for Los Jaguares in Super Rugby. The players were named by the Jaguars Board members Fernando Rizzi, Marcelo Rodríguez and Jaime Barba. The 2017 season will be the seance to feature the Argentine franchise.

The 44 players will begin training with the Jaguares coaching staff on Monday February 09 at BACRC in Buenos Aires.

Rizzi commented that “we continue growing. This is a challenge in which Argentina rugby has started to adapt since, firstly, our incorporation into the Rugby Championshipand since last year, into Super Rugby. For this reason and taking into consideration the strategic importance of the decisions we have made, the board has made available the players and all the tools for them to confront the best players in the toughest competition in professional rugby.”

Head Coach Raúl Pérez is back for his second season. He commented that “the immediate challenge is to be able to transmit all of the acquired experience from 2016 onto the field. Returning to compete in the most important and demanding in the world, with a season under our belts, already makes it very different.”

Los Jaguares are to play in the African Group. It consists of two conferences: Africa 1 and Africa 2. In Africa 1 are the Bulls, Cheetahs,  Stormers and Japanese side, the Sunwolves. Africa 2 sees Los Jaguares up against the Lions, Southern Kings and Sharks.

While Los Jagaures faced all New Zealand franchises in 2016 this will not be the case in 2017. Instead the Argentine side will play against all five Australian franchise – the Brumbies, Rebels, Reds, Waratahs and the Western Force,

Los Jaguares will open their campaign on February 25. In a repeat of 2016 the opening match will again be in South Africa. It will not be against the Cheetahs though, rather the Southern Kings.

Six players are included who did not receive Super Rugby game time in 2016. They are Santiago Álvarez, Gabriel Ascárate, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Bautista Ezcurra, Benjamín Macome and Santiago Portillo. Álvarez and Ezcurra join from Los Pumas 7’s while Macome is back from France.

Included are injured players Tomás Lavanini and Emiliano Boffelli. The notable absentee is Lucas González Amorosino.