Contepomi sweeps changes in first Argentina squad / Photo: © AFP/File
-
Alex Bodi and Prof. Dr Dieter Lazik sign a contract for ALPHA WHEY and BODI Energy Drink
-
Three talking points from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
-
Swiss reject plan to toughen neutrality: projection
-
Turkey ex-minister resigns as investment fund crisis grows
-
UK police call in bomb disposal team near air force base
-
Pope urges French bishops to 'persevere' against clerical sex abuse
-
Bangkok floods send thousands into shelters after days of rain
-
Decorated Indian badminton star calls Japan Asian Games 'very sad'
-
Assefa just misses women's world record at Berlin Marathon
-
Asian Games chiefs say lessons learned over accommodation
-
Dramatic winners Zimbabwe to end five-year exile by tackling DR Congo
-
UK's PM urges 'calm' as thousands seek to thwart flashpoint N.Ireland parade
-
Pope to meet victims of clerical sex abuse on France trip
-
Thousands seek to thwart disputed N.Ireland flashpoint parade
-
How young is too young as child prodigies win big at Asian Games
-
Swiss vote on what it means to be neutral
-
UK Labour party meets buoyed by Burnham but eager for concrete plans
-
Pope to meet with victims of clerical sex abuse during France trip
-
Thousands protest ahead of Mexican president's report on missing students
-
Iran stands firm on Hormuz plan after US rejection
-
Bangkok floods force thousands into shelters
-
Madrid protest camp grows after eviction outrage
-
AI startup urges optimism from Europe despite safety fears
-
Italy winemakers hail bumper harvest but cut output
-
'Godlike, invincible': Japan hails 11-year-old Games history-maker
-
Kyiv shoppers feel the pinch from Russian strikes
-
Nepal's hydropower ambitions face climate reality check
-
Japanese anime actor fights TikTok over AI voice cloning
-
Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable
-
Curtain falls on the romance of India's single-screen cinemas
-
Internationals keep Presidents Cup lead with late fightbacks
-
Smells like teen spirit as US thrash Peru 4-1
-
Tuchel to 'keep pushing' England to reach Spain's level
-
Cavy chaos: Hundreds attend New Zealand's biggest guinea pig show
-
Alcaraz saves match points to keep Europe ahead in Laver Cup
-
Venezuela releases more political prisoners after opposition talks
-
Spain success driven by hunger to improve, says De La Fuente
-
England's best 'for a long time' despite Spain defeat, says Kane
-
Lyon collapse at Stade Francais to suffer first Top 14 loss
-
Powerful storm pummels northeast US with rain, high winds
-
Oyarzabal and Spain sink England again as Modric shines for Croatia
-
Filmmaker Mike Leigh wins top prize at Spain festival with 'last film'
-
Housing protesters camp in central Madrid after mass demonstration
-
Spain beat England in Nations League to extend unbeaten run
-
Louise Trotter expands her palette at Bottega Veneta
-
Ireland squad vote to play Israel tie despite Gaza unease
-
Pope prays at Lourdes after huge Paris mass
-
Gutsy Vollering wins cycling road race world title
-
USA trims International lead after Presidents Cup four-balls
-
Vollering wins cycling road race world title
Contepomi sweeps changes in first Argentina squad
New Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has named a much-changed squad for next month's Tests with France and Uruguay, leaving out 15 members of the set-up at last year's Rugby World Cup.
Among the big-name absentees from Contepomi's first full squad are ageing Test centurions hooker Agustin Creevy and fly-half Nicolas Sanchez as well as utility back Juan Cruz Mallia.
Toulouse's Mallia, Bordeaux-Begles lock Guido Petti and La Rochelle prop Joel Sclavi are missing due to their end-of-season committment with their French clubs.
Ex-Pumas playmaker Contepomi took over from Australian Michael Cheika after October's World Cup third-place play-off loss and assembled a training squad, without playing a game, in London earlier this year.
Contepomi has selected four uncapped players. Brive prop Francisco Coria Marchetti, Vannes back-rower Bautista Pedemonte as well as lock Franco Molina and full-back Mateo Soler from the Dogos XV domestic side have yet to feature for the Test side.
Eleven members of the squad play their club rugby in France, including in-form Clermont winger Bautista Delguy.
"This year is the starting point of a new World Cup cycle with the main objective of the Australia 2027 World Cup," Contepomi said in an Argentine Rugby Union statement on Wednesday.
"We will put a lot of emphasis on the recovery of the players, and that is why several will have a rest and will be part of the squad rotation for other games in the year (the Rugby Championship and the November Window)," he added.
Los Pumas play France on July 6 and 13 before a Test against Uruguay a week later.
They then play six games in The Rugby Championship before facing Italy, Ireland and Les Bleus again in November.
Squad
Forwards: Matias Alemanno, Eduardo Bello, Bautista Bernasconi, Ignacio Calles, Santiago Coria Marchetti, Thomas Gallo, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Franco Molina, Julian Montoya, Joaquin Moro, Joaquin Oviedo, Lucas Paulos, Bautista Pedemonte, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Lucio Sordoni, Mayco Vivas
Backs: Tomas Albornoz, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Martin Bogado, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Santiago Cordero, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Gonzalo Garcia, Ignacio Mendy, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Mateo Soler
J.Fankhauser--BTB
