Contepomi names Los Pumas squad for Springboks, Wallabies fixtures
By Theo BrennanFelipe Contepomi has selected a 34-man Los Pumas squad to face South Africa and Australia in three upcoming test matches. These August and September fixtures occupy the traditional Rugby Championship window but are not official tournament games, a scheduling change prompted by New Zealand and South Africa choosing to play each other more frequently.
The Pumas will first host the top-ranked Springboks in Buenos Aires on Saturday, August 8, followed by two matches against the Wallabies on August 29 and September 5 in Jujuy and Mendoza, respectively, Americas Rugby News reported Felipe Contepomi named a 34-man Los Pumas roster.
Uncapped Players and Invitations
The squad includes ten uncapped players, signaling a blend of emergent talent with established figures. Dogos flanker Facundo Cardozo and Pumitas center Benjamín Ortiz join the team as invitational development players. Ortiz and Cardozo are part of a larger contingent looking for their first senior national team cap.
Among the other uncapped individuals are players from South America's Super Rugby Americas, one from Australia's Super Rugby, one from Italy's United Rugby Championship, and another from France's Top 14. Leonel Oviedo, a hooker playing in Australia and older brother of Joaquín Oviedo, is one of these uncapped players, having featured for the Barbarians in June 2026. Mateo Soler, Juan Penoucos, and Agustín Fraga also make returns to the squad after being involved in July.
Veteran Returns Bolster Squad Depth
Contepomi's selections also see five capped players return to the squad who did not participate in the July test matches. This group includes loosehead prop Rodrigo Martínez, making his first appearance under Contepomi after being a consistent selection under previous coach Mario Ledesma, Americas Rugby News stated Martinez and Lavanini return.
Veteran second rower Tomás Lavanini, who boasts 91 test caps, is another significant returnee. Lavanini last played for Argentina in September 2024 and rejoins the squad after Pedro Rubiolo had surpassed him in the pecking order. His experience provides crucial depth in the engine room for these challenging contests against international rugby news stalwarts South Africa and Australia.