Argentina’s first roster of the year is forthcoming. Los Pumas’ busy year begins in Dublin, Ireland on June 20. The assignment is a rare battle against the British & Irish Lions. The fixture is positioned before the end of the Top 14 season which will influence consideration for certain positions.
The long year of international duty is certain to see new players involved. This article identifies players across all positions who may be rookies for Los Pumas in 2025. In some cases players are pressing for selection while in others there are additional factors such as injuries and the availability of established names. If new names are required who is positioned, according to selection criteria, for a first cap in 2025?
| LOOSE HEAD PROP |
Thomas Gallo started 11 of Argentina’s test matches in 2024 and Mayco Vivas started 1. Ignacio Calles was used more than Vivas as the understudy to Gallo. Rodrigo Martínez featured in the November Camp but did not play for Argentina. Veteran Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro returned for the Camp this past March. All five are contenders to face the British & Irish Lions on June 20 and / or England and Uruguay in July. If another is required, then Dogos loose head, Boris Wenger is well positioned.
Most Likely Rookie: Boris Wenger
| HOOKER |
Captain Julián Montoya started 10 tests for Los Pumas in 2024 and Ignacio Ruiz had 2 starts. The now retired Agustín Creevy was used as a replacement and Ignacio Calles covered hooker in one match. Bautista Bernasconi trained but remains uncapped. A further option is Lionel Oviedo.
Most Likely Rookie: Bautista Bernasconi
| TIGHT HEAD PROP |
Of the front-row positions, tight head prop is where the picture is the most clouded. Joel Sclavi stated 7 tests in 2024, Eduardo Bello started 4 and Lucio Sordoni started 1. Francisco Coria Marchetti and Pedro Delgado were rookies while veteran Francisco Gómez Kodela returned, at the age of 39, in November.
Only Coria Marchetti and Sclavi trained with Los Pumas in March. Tetaz Chaparro’s return could yet see him revert to tight head or there may be a recall for Santiago Medrano. Former Pumita Tomás Rapetti impressed for Los Pampas in Super Rugby Americas. Facundo Pomponio (Montauban) is a further option.
Most Likely Rookie: Tomás Rapetti
| SECOND-ROW |
Seven players started at lock in 2024 for Los Pumas. Pedro Rubiolo (9) and Franco Molina (6) were the most used. Others were Guido Petti (3), Tomás Lavanini (2), Lucas Paulos (2), Marcos Kremer (1) and Matías Alemanno (1). Efraín Elías debuted in 2024 and trained in the camp in March. Pumita Luciano Acevedo briefly trained with Los Pampas during the 2024 Rugby Championship.
Most Likely Rookie: Luciano Asevedo
| BACK-ROW |
A handful of players dominated the starting names across the three back-row positions in 2024. Juan Martín Gonzalez (11), Pablo Matera (9), Joaquín Oviedo (9), and Marcos Kremer (7) were heavily used. Santiago Grondona (2), and Joaquin Moro (1) were the others to start.
Moro and Bautista Pedemonte were the rookies in 2024. Facundo Isa is back in the mix in 2025; he and the uncapped Benjamín Grondona featured in the camp in March.
Most Likely Rookie: Benjamín Grondona
| SCRUM-HALF |
Scrum-half depth is both an area of concern and optimism for Argentina. Gonzalo Bertranou started 9 test matches for Los Pumas in 2024 while Gonzalo Garcia started 2 and Lautaro Bazán Vélez started 1. Tomás Cubelli and Eliseo Morales both trained with Los Pumas but did not earn caps. Bazán Vélez, Cubelli and Morales are unlikely to feature this year. Bazán Vélez is now focused on Los Pumas 7’s while others are ahead of Morales in Super Rugby Americas.
SRA 2025 has seen five uncapped Argentine scrum-halves performing very well: Mateo Albanese, Tomás Di Biase, Simón Benítez Cruz, Agustín Moyano and Juan Cruz Strada. Of them Moyano and Benítez Cruz lead the pack with Moyano of Los Dogos very likely to debut for Los Pumas this year.
Most Likely Rookie: Agustín Moyano
| FLY HALF |
Tomás Albornoz had 7 starts in 2024 and Santiago Carreras had 5 in the Argentine 10 jersey. No other player featured at fly half all year. Domingo Miotti was a notable omission. Joaquín de la Vega Mendía was potentially the next in line but others will be considered instead due to him having suffered multiple head injuries. SRA top point scorer Juan Bautista Baronio (Dogos) looms as a Puma in waiting.
Most Likely Rookie: Juan Bautista Baronio
| INSIDE CENTER |
Santiago Chocobares was the most used inside center in 2024 with 7 starts. He was followed by Jerónimo de la Fuente (2), Matías Moroni (2) and Matías Orlando (1). Justo Piccardo debuted as a replacement and is well-placed to feature at inside center if others are not available. Tomás Medina had an outstanding season in SRA. He switched between both center positions and, despite being 20, captained Los Tarucas on multiple occasions.
Most Likely Rookie: Tomás Medina
| OUTSIDE CENTER |
Lucio Cinti was the regular outside center for Argentina in 2024 with 8 starts. Matías Moroni (3) and Santiago Chocobares (1) were the others to wear the 13 jersey. Tomás Medina is a strong contender to make the step up this year as is Benjamín Elizalde. The Bristol Bears’ utility could debut at outside center, wing or fullback this year for Argentina.
Most Likely Rookie: Benjamín Elizalde
| WING |
Mateo Carreras (9) and Bautista Delguy (7) started the most test matches on the wings for Argentina in 2024. Others to do so were Rodrigo Isgró (4), Matías Moroni (2), Ignacio Mendy (1) and Santiago Cordero (1). The uncapped Santiago Pernas and Mateo Soler both trained with Los Pumas in 2024. Benjamín Elizalde is more likely to debut on the wing than them; however, in terms of specialist wingers Pernas and Soler are positioned as the next in line.
Most Likely Rookie: Santiago Pernas
| FULLBACK |
Juan Cruz Mallía started 8 matches at fullback in 2024 but missed July duty and may again this year. Other starting fullbacks were Santiago Cordero (2), Martín Bogado (1) and Santiago Carreras (1). Gerónimo Prisciantelli trained with the side in late 2024 and again in early 2025. A test debut is very likely for Prisciantelli at fullback this year. He is also an option for fly half and inside center.
Most Likely Rookie: Gerónimo Prisciantelli
The post Pumas in Waiting – Most Likely Rookie Pumas in 2025 per Position appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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