A large number of Argentines play professional rugby in Italy. While they dominate the Americas player base in the Central European country they are certainly not alone. Chile, Uruguay and the USA all have players involved in Italy’s Serie A Elite, the national league. This article lists South and North Americans who play their rugby for Italian teams in the United Rugby Championship (URC) or in the Serie A Elite.
The URC contains teams from Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and South Africa. The multi regional and intercontinental league is unlike all other existing professional competitions. It combines the historic links of Celtic league with the Six Nations addition of Italy and the stray dog from South Africa.
The following details documents Americas players in Italy’s two URC teams. The players are listed according to existing eligibility. Geronimo Prisciantelli, for instance, cannot play for Italy in 2024 despite being heritage qualified. He played for the Argentina XV against Portugal and Georgia in 2022. He could change allegiance in mid-2025. Similarly, Ignacio Mendy was capped by his native Argentina in 2021.
| PLAYER | POS | CLUB | FROM | ELIGIBILITY | CAPPED |
| Juan Pitinatri | TH | Zebre | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Guido Volpi | FL | Zebre | Argentina | Argentina Italy | – |
| Bautista Stavile | FL | Zebre | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Tomás DomÃnguez | SH | Zebre | France | France + Argentina + Italy | – |
| Gonzalo GarcÃa | SH | Zebre | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
| Geronimo Prisciantelli | FH | Zebre | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Iván Nemer | LH | Benetton | Argentina | Italy | IT |
| Thomas Gallo | LO | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
| Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | LO | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
| Bautista Bernasconi | HK | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Tomás Albornoz | FH | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
| Ignacio Brex | CE | Benetton | Argentina | Italy | IT |
| JoaquÃn Riera | CE | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Ignacio Mendy | WI | Benetton | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
Italy’s domestic premiership has been rebranded over the decades. It has been the Divisione Nazionale, the Eccellenza, the Serie A1, the Super 10, the Top 12 and the Top 10. For the 2023-2024 season the competition was rebranded from the Top 10 to the Serie A Elite.
The 2022-2023 Serie A takes place from October to April. It is a nine team, league. Rugby supporters interested in following Chile and Uruguay will certainly have reason to follow the league. There are Rugby World Cup 2023 players from both sides of the South American continent playing in the league.
There is a touch of a connection to the USA and a heavy attachment to Argentina. For the most part the Argentine players are lesser known; however, there is also a Rugby World Cup 2023 Puma in the league. There are also a number of Argentines who may be involved for the Argentina XV or Los Pumas in the coming years.
There are players from all corners of Argentina. There are players previously attached to Argentina for life who are now entitled to change allegiance.
| PLAYER | POS | CLUB | FROM | ELIGIBILITY | CAPPED |
| MatÃas Galliano | LH | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Diego Arbelo | TH | Colorno | Uruguay | Uruguay | UY |
| Federico Gutiérrez | LO | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Bautista Grenon | FL | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Gregorio del Prete | SH | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | AR |
| Ignacio Ceballos | FH | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| AgustÃn Travaglini | WI | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Diego Antl | WI | Colorno | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | IT 7’s |
| José Ignacio Spinelli | WI | Fiandre Oro Roma | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Romulo Acosta | LH | Lyons Piacenza | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Francisco Minervino | LH | Lyons Piacenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Santiago Portillo | N8 | Lyons Piacenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| José Ignacio Chico | SH | Lyons Piacenza | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| JoaquÃn Paz | CE | Lyons Piacenza | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Sebastien Zaridza | CE | Lyons Piacenza | USA | USA + Italy | – |
| Tomás Montilla | HK | Petrarca | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Gonzalo Hughes | TH | Petrarca | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Diego Sebastián Galleto | LO | Petrarca | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Mariano Romanini | N8 | Petrarca | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Rodrigo Fernández | FH | Petrarca | Chile | Chile | CL |
| Marcos di Sanctis | FB | Petrarca | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Vittorio Lastra | LH | Rovigo | Chile | Chile | CL |
| Alfonso Zottola | LO | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Lautaro Casado Sandri | FL | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Lautaro Bazán Vélez | SH | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina | AR |
| Facundo Ferrario | CE | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Rafael Andrés Lertora | CE | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Ignacio Dogliani | CE | Rovigo | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Javier DÃaz | LH | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | AR |
| Ulises Garziera | LH | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Juan Ignacio Cruz | HK | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Lucas Favre | TH | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Benito Paolucci | FL | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Nicolás Sbrocco | FL | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Facundo Silva Soria | FH | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Maximo Ledesma | FH | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Facundo Panceyra | CE | Valorugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Santiago Resino | CE | Valrugby Emilia | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Facundo Molina | LH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Rodrigo Oubiña | LH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Roberto Tejerizo | LH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Santiago Bellotti | HK | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Ignacio Dorronsoro | HK | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Juan Pablo Gamboa | HK | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Santiago Grippo | HK | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Adolfo Caila | LO | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Alfonso Zottola | LO | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | |
| Benito Paolucci | FL | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Federico Ruiz | FL | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Juan Wagenpfeil | FL | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | IT 7’s |
| Patrricio Baronio | SH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| MatÃas Sauze | SH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| BenjamÃn Madero | FH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| MartÃn Roger | FH | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Ignacio Dogliani | CE | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Antonio Orellana | CE | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Javier Rojas | CE | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Leopoldo Herrera | WI | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Juan Franco Morosini | FB | Viadana | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Facundo Avila Recio | TH | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Conrado Roura | N8 | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Octavio Gelos | SH | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
| Fidel Sánchez Valarolo | CE | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| AgustÃn Galliano | WI | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina + Italy | – |
| Pedro Mercerat | FB | Rangers Vicenza | Argentina | Argentina | – |
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