Argentina Rugby Depth Report

Plenty of eyes will be on Argentina in a little of a year at Rugby World Cup 2027. Los Pumas reached the Semi Finals of the previous Men’s Rugby World Cup (France 2023) as well as in England (2015) and France 2007). This raises a question as to whether the current team has what it takes to reach, or go beyond, the Semi Finals in Australia 2027.

This article documents the rugby depth of Argentina. It identifies the players across all positions and lists the players who are in the frame for international duty. The players are listed in order based on their frequency in Los Pumas under Felipe Contepomi.

The names include players capped under prior coaches who may conceivably be considered in the event of an injury crisis or improved form. In addition, numerous uncapped players who have been representing the Argentina XV are listed.

 

1 – LOOSE HEAD PROP

This position has a clear first-choice player in Thomas Gallo when he is fit and available. This leaves two spots open for players to earn a spot on the RWC 2027 roster. Mayco Vivas and Boris Wenger have both started in his absence. Rodrigo Martínez and Ignacio Calles have featured as replacements. This suggests options though it must be remembered that Joel Sclavi moved from tight head to loose head for RWC 2023.

Player	Club	Pathways / Status	Caps
Thomas Gallo	Lyon (FR)	Los Pumas (First Choice)	40
Boris Wenger	Harlequins (UK)	Los Pumas (Regular Match Day 23)	11
Mayco Vivas	Oyonnax (FR)	Los Pumas	44
Ignacio Calles	Bayonne (FR)	Los Pumas	8
Rodrigo Martínez	Dragons (UK)	Los Pumas	4
Nicolás Revol Pitt	Dogos XV	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Diego Correa	Capibaras	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Matías Medrano	Benetton (IT)	Argentina XV	Uncapped

 

2 – HOOKER

Captain Julián Montoya holds down the starting spot at hooker and Ignacio Ruiz is the clear understudy. Bautista Bernasconi is the next in line and expected to be back on the roster when he is fit and available. Leonel Oviedo and Martin Vaca are cover.

El Toro Joel Sclavi is the starting tight head but there are questions as to which two are expected to be positioned in the top three for an Argentine roster exclusively featuring the very best players. 21-year-old Tomás Rapetti has made tremendous progress in one year while Francisco Moreno, Francisco Coria Marchetti, and Pedro Delgado have all filled in for Eduardo Bello during his two years out of action.

 

4 – LOOSE HEAD SECOND-ROW

Pumas centurion Guido Petti is a regular but, unlike during past RWC cycles, he has competition for the starting spot. Franco Molina has started ahead of Petti and Efraín Elías is an emerging talent to give Argentina three leading options for two RWC roster spots. Franco Carrera has trained with the roster but remains uncapped. Cover exists in the form of flanker Marcos Kremer.

5 – TIGHT HEAD SECOND-ROW

Pedro Rubiolo is the clear first-choice tight-head second-rower. He has overtaken both Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini and also Lucas Paulos. Rubiolo and one more is expected for the World Cup. It could be Luciano Asevedo who has trained with Los Pumas but is uncapped and has recently started his professional career abroad in France. Other possibilities include either Franco Molina or Efraín Elías playing on the tight-head side or moving Marcos Kremer from flanker which happened in both 2024 and 2025.

6 – FLANKER

Flanker is highly competitive. When all players are fit and available Juan Martín González is first-choice ahead of Pablo Matera. Santiago Grondona has filled-in when required and has done so across all back-row positions. Juan Penoucos impressed on debut against South Africa in August and Facundo Cardozo debuted at home in Mendoza against the Wallabies.

7 – FLANKER

Marcos Kremer is the first-choice for this position. Juan Martín González and Santiago Grondona both play either side of the scrum. In short, the top four flankers can be clearly defined in alphabetical order as: Juan Martín González, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer and Pablo Matera. Benjamín Grondona is an emerging talent who has proven to be up to the requirements of elite test rugby. Guido Petti covers from second-row.

Player	Pro Club / Current Team	Pathways / Status	Caps
Marcos Kremer	Clermont (FR)	Los Pumas (First Choice)	83
Benjamín Grondona	Bristol Bears (UK)	Los Pumas	5
Agustín Sarelli	Tarucas	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Bautista Pedemonte	Vannes (FR)	Los Pumas	2
Felipe Villagrán	Capibaras	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Aitor Bildosola	Dogos	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Manuel Bernstein	Pampas	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Bautista Stavile	Zebre Parma (IT)	Ex Pumita (Experienced in URC)	Uncapped

 

8 – NO. 8

Joaquín Oviedo is the leading Argentine NO. 8. There are two options covering him: Santiago Grondona and Joaquín Moro. Both have started in Oviedo’s absence in recent international duty. Both also cover flanker though Moro is less of a utility. Juan Martín Scelzo will have more opportunities to rise and be considered for Australia 2027.

Player	Club	Pathways / Status	Caps
Joaquín Oviedo	Perpignan (FR)	Los Pumas (First Choice)	25
Santiago Grondona	Pau (FR)	Los Pumas (Utility Back-Row)	27
Joaquín Moro	Leicester Tigers (UK)	Los Pumas	8
Juan Martín Scelzo	Stade Français (FR)	Los Pumas (Rookie)	2
Thiago Sbrocco	Tarucas	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Facundo Isa	Pau (FR)	Ex Puma (Experienced in France)	53
Juan Bautista Mernes	Dogos	Argentina XV	Uncapped
Rodrigo Bruni	Bayonne (FR)	Ex Puma (Experienced in Top 14)	26
Guido Volpi	Viadana (IT)	Ex ARG U18 (Experienced in URC)	Uncapped

 

9 – SCRUM HALF

The scrum-half options are unrecognizable in 2026 compared to 2023. As it stands the three players getting game-time are all players set for their first RWC. Gonzalo García is the first-choice option with Simón Benítez Cruz and Agustín Moyano also having both overtaken Gonzalo Bertranou. It is a position lacking experience but it would be inaccurate to suggest it is contemporarily a weak position for Argentina.

10 – FLY HALF

The RWC 2023 coaching staff did not take Tomás Albornoz to the World Cup. He was disappointed and has used the motivation to become the first-choice player in the position. This has been a win-win with Argentina able to benefit from Santiago Carreras starting at fullback in some matches and entering as a replacement in others. Gerónimo Prisciantelli covers both positions two and gives Argentina genuine options on how to approach different opponents.

11 – LEFT WING

Mateo Carreras has been reliable for Argentina as a starting winger. This has seen Ignacio Mendy waiting patiently for opportunities. Bautista Delguy has also played left wing though has featured more often on the right wing with he and Rodrigo Isgró in competition for the 14 jersey.

Player	Pro Club / Current Team	Pathways / Status	Caps
Mateo Carreras	Bayonne (FR)	Los Pumas (First Choice)	36
Ignacio Mendy	Benetton (IT)	Los Pumas	8
Mateo Soler	Dogos XV	Los Pumas (Rookie)	1
Mateo Pasquini	Capibaras	Argentina XV	Uncapped

 

12 – INSIDE CENTER

Test matches over the past year serve as evidence that Argentina has two World Class inside centers in Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo. Both men have been highly reliable on defense and have given an edge to the attack. Faustino Sánchez Valarolo has filled in for them in 2026, doing so ahead of Matías Moroni.

13 – OUTSIDE CENTER

Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo are listed as inside centers but both have also played Top 14 rugby at outside center. They could thus be the starting center pairing in Australia 2027. Lucio Cinti is the established first-choice specialist at outside center. Veteran Matías Moroni is cover with both also covering wing and having moved to the position in final quarters of test matches.

Both Bautista Delguy and Rodrigo Isgró are firmly established as permanent members of a full-strength Pumas roster. The same applies to Mateo Carreras. These three can thus be viewed as the expected wingers for Australia 2023 ahead of Ignacio Mendy. Additional options exist with Santiago Pernas having impressed in Super Rugby Americas this RWC cycle.

15 – FULLBACK

Argentina’s fullback options are a true strength. Juan Cruz Mallía, Gerónimo Prisciantelli and Santiago Carreras are all play-makers. There is room for all on the same roster due to the utility ability of them all. Benjamín Elizalde is another promising option to give the position genuine depth. Mateo Soler debuted for Los Pumas in the final home match of 2026.