Brazil, Chile and Uruguay get to show how much progress they’ve made after playing in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) when they join Paraguay for this weekend's opening round of the 38th South American A Championship.
The Brazilian Tupís, ranked 38th in the World Rugby Rankings, were the surprise package in the ARC, beating USA and pushing Uruguay and Chile close, and they are relishing the opportunity to show how much they’ve grown since March when they tackle Uruguay this Saturday at a new venue, the Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo, home of the famous Palmeiras football team.
A 30-man squad has been in camp in nearby Sao José dos Campos under coach Rodolfo Ambrossio, who has selected many of the same players involved in the ARC, including the Sancery twins, Daniel and Felipe, who have since relocated to Brazil from France to pursue their rugby careers.
Also included are brothers Moisés and Lucas Duque (pictured above), both involved when Brazil came painstakingly close to defeating Uruguay. Los Teros edged that game 33-29 after an uncomfortable 80 minutes. Since then though, they have had more time to work together as a team with new coach Esteban Meneses, who has largely kept faith with the same group of players who finished fourth in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship, without selecting those playing professional rugby in Europe.
That said, Gonzalo Campomar returns to the back row after four years out of the team, and Rugby World Cup veteran Joaquín Prada, who was unavailable due to medical studies, is back in the mix.
Emphasising the importance of the game to rugby in the region is the fact it will be broadcast live on national television in Brazil.
Brazil last beat Uruguay in 1964, one of three losses Los Teros have endured in 23 games against their neighbours.
A point to prove
In the other game on Saturday, Paraguay will be looking to prove their omission from the Americas Rugby Championship was a mistake when they travel west to Santiago to take on a Chile side who finished a difficult first cross-continental campaign in last place.
Defending South American A champions Chile, currently 29th in the World Rugby Rankings, will host the Yacarés at the Old Grangonian Club and not at their regular home venue at CARR, in La Reina.
Coach Elías Santillán has selected a squad that includes none of the overseas-based players used in March for the Americas Rugby Championship. The sevens players who played for Chile in Hong Kong recently are available though.
Ranked 37th, the Paraguayans, unlike Chile, have been working with a squad that includes six players based abroad – two in Australia (Carlos Plate and Diego Argaña), three in France (Miguel Jara, Eymard Brizuela and Omar Rojas) and one in Argentina (Leonardo Glitz).
In 25 tests, Paraguay have only managed one win, in Santiago in 1993. The last time they met, Cóndores beat Yakarés 35-25 in Asunción.
The top two from the round-robin tournament will qualify for next year’s Sudamérica Rugby Cup, alongside Chile and Uruguay.
South American A Championship fixtures:
Saturday 23 April
Brazil v Uruguay, in Sao Paulo
Chile v Paraguay, in Santiago
Saturday 30 April
Paraguay v Uruguay, in Asunción
Brazil v Chile, in Sao Paulo
Saturday 7 May
Uruguay v Chile, in Montevideo
Paraguay v Brazil, in Asunción