BUENO AIRES, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Toulon loose forward Facundo Isa was left out of Argentina's Rugby World Cup squad on Monday as coach Mario Ledesma turned his focus to players based locally.
Ledesma instead selected Rodrigo Bruno, one of 26 players from Buenos Aires club Jaguares included in the 31-man squad for next month's tournament.
"I was convinced more by other players," Ledesma told reporters here. "And I wanted to give priority to those playing at home over those based abroad. Contrary to what sections of the media thought, Facundo was not a certain choice."
Also absent was Exeter Chiefs winger Santiago Cordero, who was a part of the Pumas' 2019 Rugby Championship campaign.
The World Cup will be played in Japan from September 20 to November 2. Argentina have been drawn in the same pool as France, Tonga, England and the United States.
The Pumas' best performances at a World Cup was third place at the 2007 tournament in France.
Argentina's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup is as follows:
Back threes: Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares), Joaquin Tuculet (Jaguares), Santiago Carreras (Jaguares), Bautista Delguy (Jaguares), Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares)
Centers: Jeronimo de la Fuente (Jaguares), Juan Cruz Mallia (Jaguares), Lucas Mensa (Pucara), Matias Moroni (Jaguares), Matias Orlando (Jaguares)
Fly halves: Nicolas Sanchez (Stade Francais), Benjamin Urdapilleta (Castres)
Scrum halves: Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares), Felipe Ezcurra (Hindu)
Back rows/second rows: Rodrigo Bruni (Jaguares), Javier Ortega Desio (Jaguares), Marcos Kremer (Jaguares), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Jaguares), Tomas Lezana (Jaguares), Pablo Matera (Jaguares, capt), Matias Alemanno (Jaguares), Tomas Lavanini (Jaguares), Guido Petti (Jaguares)
Front rows: Agustin Creevy (Jaguares), Julian Montoya (Jaguares), Santiago Socino (Jaguares), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Jaguares), Juan Figallo (Saracens), Santiago Medrano (Jaguares), Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares), Mayco Vivas (Jaguares).
