French presence in Uruguay World Cup squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bayonne lock Manuel Leindekar and Castres scrumhalf Santiago Arata were both named in Uruguay’s 33-man World Cup squad.
The two Top 14 players are the most experienced in terms of top-flight club rugby with most of the squad being pulled from Montevideo-based Penarol who play in the Super Rugby Americas league.
Centres Andres Vilaseca and Nicolas Freitas both play for French second-division side Vannes while flyhalf Felipe Berchesi was in the same league with Dax until his contract ended in June.
Los Teros completed their warm-ups with a 33-13 win over an Argentina XV which followed a 26-25 win over World Cup newcomers Chile and a 26-16 victory over Namibia, who they will meet again in Pool A.
Esteban Meneses’s side will also face tougher opponents in Italy, New Zealand and hosts France.
Uruguay squad:
Forwards: Diego Arbelo, Matias Benitez, Ignacio Peculo, Reinaldo Piussi, Mateo Sanguinetti, Facundo Gattas, German Kessler, Guillermo Pujadas, Felipe Aliaga, Ignacio Dotti, Manuel Leindekar, Manuel Ardao, Lucas Bianchi, Carlos Deus, Eric Dosantos, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Diana, Juan Manuel Rodriguez.
Backs: Santiago Alvarez, Santiago Arata, Agustin Ormaechea, Felipe Etcheverry, Felipe Berchesi, Nicolas Freitas, Andres Vilaseca, Felipe Arcos Perez, Tomas Inciarte, Juan Manuel Alonso, Baltazar Amaya, Bautista Basso, Rodrigo Silva, Gaston Mieres, Ignacio Facciolo.
