Argentina assemble squad of 29 for their pre-England training camp

Michael Cheika has brought together a squad of 29 for this week’s three-day Argentina training camp at Sale, the Manchester-based Gallagher Premiership club. The Australian, who is currently double jobbing as he is involved with Lebanon for their Rugby League World Cup campaign, selected 14 Top 14 players – including the uncapped Martin Bogado – and ten more from the Premiership. Bogado was only a recent reinforcement at Bayonne and last weekend heralded his first start in the Top 14.

Having signed off last month with two wins in their six-match Rugby Championship campaign, an adventure that included a first-ever win in New Zealand over the All Blacks, Argentina will bring the curtain down on their 2022 schedule with a three-game UK tour that begins against England on November 6 and also features games versus Wales and Scotland.

A media release confirming the Argentina squad for this half week’s training camp at Sale read: “One of the novelties of this call is the presence of the missionary Martin Bogado (24 years old), a player who emerged from the Centro de Cazadores de Posadas club (at the age of 18 he moved to the Jockey Club of Córdoba).

“He is a recent reinforcement of Aviron Bayonnais, a team that plays in the French Top 14 and with whom he debuted as a starter last Saturday in the 24-20 victory against Perpignan. This is the first summons for a Los Pumas activity for the wing, who began playing rugby at the age of 13 after dedicating himself to soccer at the Huracan club.

“He debuted in the first division as a starter at the age of 17 and the following year he left for Cordoba. Bogado joined the Olimpia Lions squad in the SLAR and this season he wore the Jaguares XV and Argentina XV jerseys. Another peculiarity is the call of the Mendoza prop Rodrigo Martinez. Although he already debuted in Los Pumas in 2021 (he has three caps), it is his first call in this cycle.

“At the Sale Sharks facilities, the Argentine squad will continue their training on Tuesday and Wednesday with the presence of head coach Michael Cheika and his assistant coaches Felipe Contepomi, Andres Bordoy, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and David Kidwell.”

Argentina training squad (Manchester):
ALBORNOZ, Tomas (Benetton)
ALEMANNO, Matias (Gloucester Rugby)
BELLO, Eduardo (Saracens)
BERTRANOU, Gonzalo (Newport Dragons)
BOFFELLI, Emiliano (Edinburgh Rugby)
BOGADO, Martin (Aviron Bayonnais)
CALLES, Ignacio (Pau)
CARRERAS, Mateo (Newcastle)
CARRERAS, Santiago (Gloucester Rugby)
CINTI, Lucio (London Irish)
CORDERO, Santiago (Bordeaux Begles)
CREEVY, Agustin (London Irish)
CUBELLI, Tomas (Biarritz Olympique)
DE LA FUENTE, Jeronimo (Perpignan)
DELGUY, Bautista (Clermont)
GALLO, Thomas (Benetton)
GONZALEZ, Juan Martin (London Irish)
MARTINEZ, Rodrigo (unattached)
IMHOFF, Juan (Racing 92)
ISA, Facundo (RC Toulon)
KREMER, Marcos (Stade Francais)
LAVANINI, Tomas (Clermont)
MALLIA, Juan Cruz (Stade Toulousain)
MATERA, Pablo (Honda Heat)
MONTOYA, Julian (captain – Leicester)
MORONI, Matías (Newcastle)
ORLANDO, Matias (Newcastle)
PAULOS, Lucas (CA Brive)
TETAZ CHAPARRO, Nahuel (Benetton)
*The list will undergo modifications for the meetings in the November window