Grondona in Argentina's summer squad

By Mark Stevens
21/6/22

Exeter Chiefs forward Santiago Grondona has been named in a 33-man Argentina squad for the upcoming home series versus Scotland.

The 23-year-old, who joined the Chiefs back in November of last year, has been rewarded for his form at club level, where he featured 13 times for the Devon club, scoring three tries in the process.

Grondona is one of a number of Gallagher Premiership-based players in the squad selected by new head coach Michael Cheika, who has also selected 89-cap hooker Augustin Creevy.

The 37-year-old, who last represented his country at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, had never given up hope of getting another look-in and he has now earned selection with Cheika succeeding Mario Ledesma as boss.

It was October 2021 when Creevy sent Ledesma a message via RugbyPass when asked if he was now officially retired from the international scene.

Frech from a stellar season at London Irish where he scored 14 tries in 21 Premiership appearances and another four tries in four Challenge Cup games, Cheika has now summoned Creevy to Argentina for the three-match July series.

“I’m very satisfied with our first squad for the Los Pumas season,” said Cheika after naming a squad containing two uncapped players, Velez Bazan and Ignacio Ruiz. “There was great competition for each of the positions and in our discussions about each player selection, we have taken into account both the series of matches with Scotland and the long-term plans towards the 2023 World Cup.

“With this goal in mind, the designation we made of players to put together the Argentina XV squad for the tour of Europe is also very important for us. All this will give us the opportunity to see the 60 best players in Argentina playing at a high level. What is also valuable for everyone is that we will be able to see the Los Pumas jersey again on Argentine grounds after almost three years.”

Included in the XV squad is Exeter Chiefs winger Facundo Cordero, the younger brother of Santiago Cordero, who is also set to face the Scots.

Los Pumas face Scotland at home on three successive Saturdays in July while the XV has away games scheduled versus Georgia and Portugal.

Argentina squad: Matías Alemanno, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Emiliano Boffelli, Rodrigo Bruni, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Cordero, Agustín Creevy, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo De La Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Thomas Gallo, Gonzalo García, Francisco Gómez Kodela, Juan Martín González, Santiago Grondona, Juan Imhoff, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía, Pablo Matera, Julián Montoya (captain), Matías Orlando, Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti, Ignacio Ruiz, Nicolás Sánchez, Joel Sclavi, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Mayco Vivas.

Argentina XV squad: Tomás Albornoz, Bautista Bernasconi, Manuel Bernstein, Gonzalo Bertranou, Martín Bogado, Facundo Bosch, Ignacio Calles, Sebastián Cancelliere, Mateo Carreras, Facundo Cordero, Javier Coronel, Tomás Cubilla, Julián Domínguez, Rodrigo Fernández, Facundo Gigena, Jerónimo Gómez Vara, Francisco Gorrissen (captain), Federico Lavanini, Tomás Lezana, Santiago Medrano, Lucas Mensa, Franco Molina, Eliseo Morales, Matías Moroni, Joaquín Oviedo, Enrique Pieretto, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, Santiago Ruiz, Agustín Segura, Santiago Socino.