South American rugby saw a wave of new test players emerge in 2025, a year that proved especially important for nations preparing for the next Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Three teams from the region, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina, will all compete at the Rugby World Cup 2027, repeating the representation they enjoyed at the 2023 tournament.
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With Uruguay and Chile securing their qualification during the year, South America once again confirmed its growing strength on the global stage. As preparations shift toward the 2027 event in Australia, the performances and development seen in 2025 take on even greater significance. One of the key questions now is identifying which players earned their first international caps during the year.
Then could potentially shape their countries’ future squads. This rewritten summary highlights every new debutant for Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina throughout 2025. For Uruguay, loosehead prop Francisco Suárez had one of the most notable seasons among rookies. He made his first appearance in July during a record-setting victory over Romania in Montevideo.
The following month brought two more new caps for Los Teros: back-rower Manuel Rosmarino and center Alfonso Perillo Albarracín. Both debuted against Paraguay, though in different venues. Perillo Albarracín earned his first cap in Asunción, while Rosmarino came off the bench in the return fixture in Montevideo.
Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers were played outside the standard international window, which created complications around player availability. The national union had to negotiate releases directly with clubs.
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Rugby World Cup: Arata’s Absence Opens the Door for Fresh Talent
Then, as a result, Rugby World Cup star scrum-half Santiago Arata was available to face Chile but missed the November internationals. Head coach Rodolfo Ambrosio responded to these challenges by calling up French-born Jean Cotarmanac’h, who earned his first cap against Portugal in Lisbon. He was one of three debutants in that match.
The others were both Argentine-born backs: outside center Justo Ferrario, who started the game, and fullback Francisco González Capdevila, who entered as a replacement. Chile, meanwhile, introduced fewer new players during 2025, but those who did debut were significant additions to Pablo Lemoine’s plans.
In July’s win over Romania, flankers Santiago Valenzuela and Augusto Villanueva both earned their first caps, each coming on as a replacement. These two would be the only forwards given debut opportunities for Chile throughout the entire year. The final new face arrived during Chile’s last test of the season. Scrum-half Juan Sebastián Bianchi debuted off the bench against Italy in Genoa.
With both Marcelo Torrealba and Benjamin Videla unavailable, Bianchi became the only Chilean back to make his first international appearance in 2025. Argentina had the highest number of debutants, fitting for a team with a deep player pool and high international workload.
Loosehead prop Boris Wenger participated in the series against the British & Irish Lions earlier in the year but had to wait until the Rugby Championship for his first official test cap, which came against Australia in Townsville.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Bernasconi and Rapetti Strengthen the Pumas Pack
Hooker Bautista Bernasconi also featured against the Lions but earned his first cap soon afterward when Argentina faced England in La Plata. A third front-rower, Tomás Rapetti, completed his rise by debuting against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup Final Championship’s final round. The back row also saw fresh blood. Benjamín Grondona made his test debut against England in San Juan.
Joining his brother Santiago as a Puma. Nicolás D’Amorim received his first cap as a replacement against Uruguay in Salta, strengthening depth at loose forward. Argentina’s November tour of Great Britain brought two new scrum-halves into the system. Simón Benítez Cruz played against the British & Irish Lions before officially debuting against England in La Plata.
A week later in San Juan, Agustín Moyano earned his first cap. Both players helped fill a crucial long-term need at number nine. At fly half, two more Pumas emerged. Nicolás Roger made his debut against England in La Plata, while Gerónimo Prisciantelli received his first cap in Townsville during the Rugby Championship match against Australia. Argentina’s busy July home series also showcased three additional debutants.
Fullback Benjamín Elizalde earned his first cap against England in La Plata. Winger Santiago Pernas was selected to start against Uruguay in Salta, and center Faustino Sánchez Valarolo came off the bench in the same match to complete the trio. Together, these newcomers represent the next generation of South American rugby talent as the region prepares for the Rugby World Cup Final 2027.
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