Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Belief remains that foreign-based Pumas will be selected. It is this rationale which has been put forward from Facundo Isa to account for his imminent departure from Argentina to continue his professional career in France.
The star No 8 told Argentina’s test manager that “he had given his word to a club (in France) that he would go there because he firmly believes that very shortly the UAR will remove their restriction and he could play for Los Pumas.”
The player restriction saw Argentina’s leading winger, and arguably back, Juan Imhoff miss the entire 2016 campaign. This was the case despite him having been playing better rugby than those selected in place of him.
Argentina’s test manager José Cheto Santamarina explains “if one goes to play in Europe he cannot play for Los Pumas, if he does not play for Los Pumas he will not be considered for Los Jaguares.” This very logic is what has seen Isa blocked by the UAR from training.
The firm stance saw Juan Pablo Estelles’ Pumas career put on hold. Santamarina explains that Northampton’s contract extension, which changed his stay from being a medical joker to playing for the club for the entire season, ruled him out. On the other hand Felipe Arregui’s expected return from Scotland this month means he could be a Jaguar or Puma.
Isa’s departure is to follow that of Facundo Bosch. The third choice Jaguares and Pumas hooker will play for Agen next season. Like Isa the move saw him immediately removed from training in Buenos Aires.
In 2016 others departed or extended their contracts abroad. This ranged from elite clubs including powerhouses Clermont and Toulon to clubs in Italy. The biggest name to stay in Europe was Clermont’s Patricio Fernández who has made it known that he would like to play for Los Pumas.
Both Joaquín Paz and Juan León Novillo played for the Argentina XV with the former also playing Super Rugby. But limited spots meant, like Facundo Bosch, an offer to play abroad was tempting and saw him leaving.
The UAR, meanwhile, continues working hard to hold on to those considered paramount for the 2019 plans. Earlier this week Matías Alemanno, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago García Botta, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera and Guido Petti all signed. They will remain in Argentina until December 31 2019.
The next priority is the injured Tomás Lavanini. He is deemed to, like Facundo Isa, be hot property. The second-rower’s performances were crucial to reaching the Semi Finals of Rugby World Cup 2015. His scrum partner, Guido Petti turned down an offer to join Toulon.
Petti’s decision is not in common with that of Isa’s. Toulon also have Axel Müller on their roster. One of Los Pumas 7’s best, Müller would certainly have been selected for Argentina in November if available. Without Manuel Montero and Ramiro Moyano Daniel Hourcade gave Estelles his first caps. Centers Matías Moroni and Matías Orlando were also both forced to play as wingers. If Isa is correct Imhoff and Müller could play for Argentina this year.
