Felipe Contepomi’s Pumas have been dealt an injury crisis before the Americas #1 team have played a minute of test rugby in 2026. A trio of starting, and world class players, are sidelined with long-term injuries and all have undergone surgery.
 ARGENTINA INJURIES – OUT OF JULY |
First choice fullback Juan Cruz Mallía was injured playing for Argentina against England in November. A late tackle by Tom Curry saw Mallía forced off. Diagnosis confirmed that González had suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The injury sees him out for the season for his club (Toulouse) and out for Argentina for at least the July Internationals (Nations Championship).
Despite the injury, Mallía was involved in Argentina’s recent training camp in London. Pedro Rubiolo was missing from the camp. The second-rower suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing for Bristol Bears in the English Premiership. The Bristol Bears are eyeing Rubiolo to return in September.
Flanker Juan Martín González was involved in the camp in London but will not take to the field for Los Pumas in July. His season for Saracens is over after he suffered a broken foot. His injury required surgery and the recovery period means he will miss out on playing in his home town of Mendoza against Australia on September 05.
| SOLUTIONS – SECOND-ROW |
Pedro Rubiolo is Felipe Contepomi’s first-choice tight-head second-rower. That is to say, Rubiolo is the regular starting playing in the Pumas #5 shirt. Guido Petti and Franco Molina shared the load at loose head second-rower in 2024 and 2025.
Molina missed the recent training camp due to where he plays his rugby (Western Force); Contepomi did not include players based outside of Europe. Veterans Matías Alemanno (Gloucester), Guido Petti (Harlequins) and up-and-coming Efraín Elías (Toulouse) were the second-rowers in camp.
Both Alemanno and Elías are options to replace Rubiolo. Of them, the younger of the two is better positioned to play a larger role. This is based on age, style of play and selections under Contepomi thus far (2024-2025). In addition, flanker Marcos Kremer may cover second-rower as he did against Wales in November.
There are other players to call-upon if desired. This could see a recall for either Tomás Lavanini (Highlanders) or Lucas Paulos (Bayonne). Alternatively, there may be an opportunity for an uncapped player. Candidates based in Europe include Franco Carrera (Zebre Parma), and Bayonne players Álvaro García Iandolino, and Alejandro Barrios.
Felipe Contepomi has displayed a willingness to invest in Super Rugby Americas (SRA) players by rewarding players with opportunities in Los Pumas. Should this policy continue in 2026 then a rookie second-rower replacement could come in the form of Luciano Acevedo (Tarucas), Lucas Bur (Capibaras) or Lautaro Simes (Dogos).
Verdict: Rubiolo is a huge loss but Argentina can provide cover.
| SOLUTIONS – BACK-ROW |
Juan Martín González was one of five back-rowers in the recent training camp. The others were Benjamín Grondona (Bristol Bears), Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears), Marcos Kremer (Clermont), and Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan). Of them, Kremer and Oviedo were constants in 2025 and Santiago Grondona had starts at both flanker and N8 for Argentina.
Veteran Pablo Matera (Honda Heat) and Joaquin Moro (Leicester Tigers) are leading contenders. On the one hand, Matera is assured of a place. On the other hand, Moro is playing excellent rugby in England.
Capped back-rowers Bautista Pedemonte (Vannes), Francisco Gorrissen (Bayonne), Facundo Isa (Pau), and Rodrigo Bruni (Bayonne) are contenders based in France. Another is the uncapped Juan Martín Scelzo (Stade Français), who is the son of former Pumas tight head prop, Martín Scelzo. Juan Martín Scelzo has received praise this season.
If Contepomi decides to call-upon a player from SRA then options include Genaro Fissore (Dogos), Aitor Bildosola (Dogos), Facundo Cardozo (Tarucas) and Juan Pablo Bernasconi (Pampas).
Verdict: González is a huge loss but Argentina can provide cover.
| SOLUTIONS – FULLBACK |
Juan Cruz Mallía was joined by Santiago Carreras (Bath) and Benjamín Elizalde (Bristol Bears) in camp in March. Santiago Carreras has had a hybrid role under Contepomi with time split between fullback and fly half and this has come both as a starter and a replacement. Elizalde featured heavily in July 2025 only.
Former Pumas Martín Bogado (Oyonnax) and Emiliano Boffelli (Duendes) are possibilities; however, neither have played for Argentina since Rugby World Cup 2023. They can both play other positions but the selection of either is unlikely.
An alternative may see Contepomi moving a winger to fullback. Ignacio Mendy (Benetton) or Bautista Delguy (Clermont) are possibilities; notwithstanding, Delguy was notably not involved in the March training camp.
Players from SRA in consideration can be identified. Tobias Wade (Pampas) and Mateo Sánchez (Dogos) are two cases in point. The former Los Pumas 7’s player, Wade, would appear to be the best uncapped player in terms of positioning for a rookie call-up.
Verdict: restructuring is needed to cover for the loss of Mallía.
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