Brazil names squad for Asunción tournament

Josh Reeves has named a 28-man Brazil XV squad to travel to Asunción for a week-long tournament against three opponents. Beginning on Saturday the team will play against two Argentine provincial sides, Tucumán and Córdoba, followed by a non-cap game against a Paraguay XV.

The group is comprised of a mix of test veterans who recently appeared in the Americas Rugby Trophy, and several young development players. There are 10 uncapped players in all. That includes a recall for prop Piero Pozzi, a former national u20 captain who was an unused replacement against Portugal in 2019.

Two of the newcomers play their rugby abroad. Second row Ben Donald is from New Zealand and plays his club rugby for Mount Maunganui. Lorenzo Massari is not in the squad but another Italy-based center is called in Verona’s Antonio Zanatta. The 23-year-old previously spent four seasons with Mogliano.

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Alexandre Alves (Desterro) 8 caps
Brendon Alves (Pasteur) 2 caps
Piero Pozzi (São José) uncapped

HOOKER
Leonardo Silva (São José) 5 caps
Diego Vidal (Cork Constitution, IR) 1 cap
Endy Willian (Curitiba) 9 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Levy Marinho (Jacareí) uncapped
Joel Ramírez (Jacareí) 1 cap

SECOND ROW
Ben Donald (Mount Maunganui, NZ) uncapped
Kauã Guimarães (Pasteur) 1 cap
Gabriel Oliveira (Jacareí) 2 caps
Gabriel Paganini (capt., Poli) 30 caps

BACK ROW
Luccas Adib (Poli) uncapped
Adrio de Melo (Pasteur) 9 caps
Cléber Dias (Poli) 39 caps
Maiki Lemes (Jacareí) uncapped
Pedro Soares (Poli) uncapped

SCRUMHALF
Felipe Gonçalves (Pasteur) 8 caps
Igor Silva (Pasteur) uncapped

FLYHALF
Lucas Spago (Pasteur) 6 caps
Lucas Tranquez (Poli) 44 caps

MIDFIELD
Victor Silva (São José) 1 cap
Robert Tenório (Poli) 25 caps
Antonio Zanatta (Verona, IT) uncapped

OUTSIDE BACKS
Guilherme Coghetto (Farrapos) 17 caps
Alison Crispin (SPAC) uncapped
Sérgio Luna (SPAC) uncapped
Ariel Rodrigues (Poli) 10 caps