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Injuries at Los Dogos and release from Benetton combine to see the arrival of Nicolás Roger. Los Dogos have landed the 2025 rookie Pumas fly half as a medical joker covering the injured Julián Hernández and Giuliano Avaca.
Both Hernández and Avaca were injured playing for Los Dogos against Los Pampas. This saw Facundo Rodríguez playing fly half for Los Dogos this past weekend against Los Tarucas.
Roger arrives in Córdoba at the age of 25. The product of Santiago Lawn Tennis club recently completed his stint in Italy playing for Benetton in the United Rugby Championship (URC). His arrival in Super Rugby Americas (SRA) comes as a return after he played for Los Tarucas in 2025.
Los Dogos are the competition leaders this season with 9 wins and 1 defeat thus far after 10 rounds. Los Tarucas are in 5th position with 5 wins and 5 losses and are eight points adrift of Selknam who are in 4th position.
In addition to being a former Tarucas player, Roger has also played SRA for Los Cafeteros Pro, Peñarol and Selknam. Benetton was his first elite experience abroad but he also has experience in Italy playing for CUS Torino Rugby.
Roger is back in SRA in time to receive game time ahead of the July Internationals. Argentina play host to England, Scotland and Wales as part of the inaugural Nations Championship. Roger featured in the corresponding matches in July 2025 which saw him debut against England and earn his first start for Los Pumas against Uruguay.
 PUMAS IN SUPER RUGBY AMERICAS 2026 |
Nicolás Roger is the third recent Puma arrival in SRA. Rugby World Cup 2023 star, Emiliano Boffelli is eyeing a return to Los Pumas. He is playing club rugby for Duendes in Rosario and is training with Los Capibaras. His debut for the rookie SRA team is forthcoming.
In addition to Roger joining Los Dogos and Boffelli joining Los Capibaras, additional Pumas injection into SRA sees the arrival of a Puma from the English Premiership. Los Tarucas announced Benjamín Elizalde is joining Los Tucumanos from the Bristol Bears before returning to England for his new club, the Newcastle Red Bulls next season.
Elizalde and Roger debuted for Argentina together against England in July 2026. Both men are looking for game time ahead of the aforementioned home internationals in July 2027. This means that the list of Pumas playing SRA 2026 is as follows:
- Santiago Cordero (Pampas)
- Santiago Pernas (Pampas)
- Matías Orlando (Tarucas)
- Benjamín Elizalde (Tarucas)
- Emiliano Boffelli (Capibaras)
- Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos)
- Nicolás Roger (Dogos)
