Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Selection Radar

Los Teros are preparing their qualifying campaign for a fourth consecutive Rugby World Cup. The pathway for Uruguay is to win the South American finals to qualify as South America 1. Chile face Brazil in one Semi Final with Uruguay facing Paraguay in the other. The winner of the final will qualify for Australia 2027.

Uruguay debuted at Rugby World Cup 1999 and returned at Rugby World Cup 2003. Two unsuccessful campaigns followed before Los Teros secured a spot at Rugby World Cup 2015. An improved side qualified again for 2019 and 2023. Uruguay’s 2019 campaign saw Los Teros officially overtaking Canada while for 2023 the South Americans secured the Americas 1 spot ahead of the USA.

Expansion from 16 to 20 teams from 1995 to 1999 marked Uruguay’s debut. 2027 sees expansion from 20 to 24 teams. The 24-team format significantly increases Uruguay’s prospects of qualifying. Notwithstanding, World Rugby has not handed a sporting pathway for all. The Asian Champions will qualify direct. This means a first time competitor such as Hong Kong is guaranteed a spot while Chile and Uruguay are competing for one spot as South American champions.

This article analyses the picture now and who is and is not on the Uruguayan selection radar for the Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers.

URUGUAY – 2024 ALL STARTING PLAYERS

1 Mateo Sanguinetti, (5); Ignacio Péculo (1)
2 Guillermo Pujadas (4); Germán Kessler (2)
3 Reinaldo Piussi (2) Diego Arbelo (2); Ignacio Péculo (2)
4 Felipe Aliaga (5); Ignacio Dotti (1)
5 Manuel Leindekar (6)
6 Manuel Ardao (3); Santiago Civetta (3)
7 Lucas Bianchi (4); Santiago Civetta (2)
8 Manuel Diana (4); Carlos Deus (2)
9 Santiago Álvarez (5); Santiago Arata (1)
10 Felipe Etcheverry (3); Ícaro Amarillo (2); Ignacio Álvarez (1)
11 Bautista Basso (3); Nicolás Freitas (2); Ignacio Facciolo (1)
12 Andrés Vilaseca (2); Juan Manuel Alonso (2); Tomás Inciate (1); Joaquín Suárez (1)
13 Felipe Arcos Pérez (5); Tomás Inciarte (1)
14 Mateo Viñals (2); Juan Manuel Alonso (1); Juan Bautista Hontou (1) Bautista Basso (1); Gastón Mieres (1)
15 Baltazar Amaya (2); Ignacio Álvarez (2); Juan González (2)

URUGUAY – 2024 MOST COMMON SELECTIONS

1 Mateo Sanguinetti
2 Guillermo Pujadas
3 Ignacio Péculo
4 Felipe Aliaga
5 Manuel Leindekar (capt.)
6 Santiago Civetta
7 Lucas Bianchi
8 Manuel Diana
9 Santiago Álvarez
10 Felipe Etcheverry
11 Bautista Basso
12 Juan Manuel Alonso
13 Felipe Arcos Pérez
14 Mateo Viñals
15 Ignacio Álvarez

URUGUAY’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 QUALIFIERS RADAR

Rodolfo Ambrosio set about transforming the team in 2024. He had in hesitation in awarding debut caps at the expense of selecting proving veterans. His decision making bought Uruguay time as potential players for the Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifiers were blooded in 2024. Los Teros’ expanded player base is reflected in the selection radar below. Players are listed across all positions based on their standings now before the start of Super Rugby Americas 2025. The roster is followed by the projected Los Teros line-up to play in the South America 1 Final.

FORWARDS:

LOOSE HEAD
1 Ignacio Péculo (Chicago Hounds, US)
2 Mateo Sanguinetti (Peñarol)
Standby: Mateo Perillo (Peñarol)

HOOKER
1 Guillermo Pujadas (Peñarol)
2 Germán Kessler (Rouen, FR)
Standby: Joaquín Myszka (Peñarol)

TIGHT HEAD
1 Reinaldo Piussi (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Diego Arbelo (Rouen, FR)
Standby: Duban Silvera (Peñarol)

SECOND-ROW
1 Manuel Leindekar (Oyonnax, FR)
2 Felipe Aliaga (Peñarol)
3 Ignacio Dotti (Old Glory DC, US)
4 Agustín Morales (Peñarol)
Standby: Federico de Los Santos (Los Cuervos)

BACK-ROW
1 Manuel Ardao (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Lucas Bianchi (Peñarol)
3 Manuel Diana (Peñarol)
4 Santiago Civetta (Peñarol)
5 Carlos Deus (Peñarol)
6 Arturo Ten Hoever (Rouen, FR)
Standby: Manuel Rosmarino (Peñarol)

BACKS:

SCRUM-HALF
1 Santiago Arata (Castres)
2 Santiago Álvarez (Peñarol)
Standby: Pedro Hoblog (Peñarol)

FLY HALF
1 Ícaro Amarillo (Peñarol)
2 Felipe Etcheverry (Peñarol)
Standby: Ignacio Álvarez (Los Teros 7’s)

CENTER
1 Andrés Vilaseca (Peñarol)
2 Juan Manuel Alonso (Peñarol)
3 Felipe Arcos Pérez (Peñarol)
4 Joaquín Suárez (Peñarol)
Standby: Tomás Inciarte (Miami Sharks, US)

WING
1 Bautista Basso (Peñarol)
2 Mateo Viñals (Los Teros 7’s)
Standby: Ignacio Facciolo (Peñarol)

FULLBACK
1 Baltazar Amaya (Peñarol)
2 Juan González (Los Teros 7’s)
Standby: Juan Bautista Hontou (Peñarol)

PROJECTED TEROS RWC 2027 QUALIFYING LINE-UP

#	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION	CAPS
1	Ignacio Péculo	Chicago Hounds (US)	LH/TH	22
2	Guillermo Pujadas	Peñarol	HK	37
3	Reinaldo Piussi	Miami Sharks (US)	TH	9
4	Felipe Aliaga	Peñarol	LO	14
5	Manuel Leindekar (Capt.)	Oyonnax (FR)	LO	38
6	Manuel Ardao	Miami Sharks (US)	FL	30
7	Lucas Bianchi	Peñarol	FL	18
8	Manuel Diana	Peñarol	N8	47
9	Santiago Arata	Castres (FR)	SH	50
10	Ícaro Amarillo	Peñarol	FH	3
11	Juan Manuel Alonso	Peñarol	WI/CE	14
12	Andrés Vilaseca	Peñarol	CE	14
13	Felipe Arcos Pérez	Peñarol	CE	81
14	Bautista Basso	Peñarol	WI/CE	11
15	Baltazar Amaya	Peñarol	FB	13