Coach Felipe Contepomi has officially announced the Los Pumas squad for the upcoming Visa Banco Macro Rugby Championship in 2024. The team is gearing up for their matches against New Zealand as part of The Rugby Championship.
After a successful run in the July inbound Tests, where they secured two victories and suffered one defeat, Los Pumas are now focused on the challenges ahead. The team will kick off their campaign with a visit to New Zealand, where they will play their first two matches of The Rugby Championship. The first Test will take place in Wellington at Sky Stadium on Saturday, August 10, followed by a match in Auckland at the iconic Eden Park on Saturday, August 17.
The Pumas will face the All Blacks, who recently won three consecutive matches under the new head coach, Scott Robertson. The last encounter between the two teams was in the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup in France, where the All Blacks emerged victorious with a score of 44-6.
Coach Contepomi has selected a squad of 31 players for the tour of New Zealand, including six returning players and a debut call-up to the senior team. Among the returning players are Lucio Cinti, Agustín Creevy, Juan Martín González, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía, and Joel Sclavi. Efraín Elías, who captained Los Pumitas in the recent U20 World Cup, will make his first appearance in the senior squad.
Unfortunately, Jerónimo de la Fuente, who recently reached 80 caps with Los Pumas, will not be able to participate in the 2024 Rugby Championship due to personal reasons.
Coach Contepomi expressed his excitement about the upcoming challenges, stating, “After the July Window, we have the enormous challenge of starting a new Rugby Championship and continuing to evolve as a team. The squad for the first two matches against New Zealand is not definitive and may be modified as the tournament progresses.”
The Argentine public has been a tremendous source of support for the team, and Contepomi expressed his gratitude, looking forward to upcoming matches in La Plata, Santa Fe, and Santiago del Estero.
The squad for the tour of New Zealand and the 2024 Rugby Championship includes familiar faces like Santiago Cordero, Agustin Creevy, and Pablo Matera, as well as newcomers like Ephraim Elías and Bautista Pedemonte. The team is ready to take on the challenges ahead and showcase their talent on the international stage.