Argentina name a 37 man squad for summer tests

Back in the squad
By Duncan Wood
May 29 2002

Marcelo Loffreda has covered all the angles by naming a 37 man squad for the summer tests against France and England. Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi are selected as is former Bristol centre, Eduardo Simone (pictured left).

It would have been a very great surprise if the squad hadn't featured Gus and Felipe who have become very much the first choice at half back for the Pumas since the World Cup and, barring injury, we look forward to seeing them face England.

There is also a link with the selection of former Bristol centre Eduardo Simone who is now playing his club rugby in Argentina. Ted left Bristol last summer and endured a frustrating few months whilst getting over a knock to his shoulder and waiting to become eligible for club rugby having played professionally in England. It's good to see him back in the squad.

The one disappointment is that Emiliano Bergamaschi, the final Argentinian in the Bristol squad, is not selected. Emiliano made a stunning first start for Bristol in the fantastic win away at Leicester. He's had an interesting start to his Bristol career - he's broken a scrummaging machine through sheer power, overcome a minor injury and finally made his mark on the Premiership.

Gloucester's Diego Albanese is selected as are the familiar names of Roberto Grau (Ex Saracens), Rolando Martin (ex Richmond) and Freddie Mendez (ex Bath and Northampton).

The Pumas play France on June 15th, England A on June 17th and the full England side on June 22nd before travelling to South Africa for two matches.

D Albanese (Gloucester), M Albina (Los Tilos), R Alvarez (Perpignan), L Arbizu (Begles), P Bouza (Duendes), G Camardon (Roma), F Contepomi (Bristol), I Corleto (Stade Francaise), M Durand (Champagnat), I Fernandez Lobbe (Castres), J Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), N Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), J Garcia (Champagnat), D Giannantonio (La Rochelle), R Grau (Liceo Mendoza), O Hasan (Agen), JP Lagarrigue (Cardenales), M Ledesma (Narbonne), G Longo (Narbonne), R Martin (SIC), F Mendez (Mendoza RC), JM Nunez Piosek (Huirapuca), J Orengo (Perpignan), L Ostiglia (Hindu), S Phelan (CASI), A Pichot (Bristol), G Quesada (Narbonne), M Reggiardo (Castres), M Ruiz (Teque), M Sambucetti (Buenos Aires), M Scelzo (Narbonne), H Senillosa (Hindu), E Simone (Liceo Naval), F Soler (Tala), P Sporleder (Curupayti), B Stortoni (CASI), JJ Villar (CUBA).