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Juan Pablo Orlandi does not yet have a club for 2016. The 32 year old Puma from Mendoza is weighing up his options as the possibility exists for him to play Super Rugby or return to Europe. He told ESPN Scrum that “in 15 days it will be confirmed”.
Orlandi was a late entrant onto the Argentine roster for the Rugby World Cup. He got the call-up following the loss of Juan Figallo and Matías Díaz and went on to play in four Rugby World Cup matches, starting against Namibia. He was the third choice Argentine tighthead at the tournament behind Ramiro Herrera and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Both much younger than Orlandi, Herrera and Tetaz Chaparro have Super Rugby contracts and this is factoring into the decision making over the former Rovigo, Racing 92, Bath and Newcastle Falcons front-rower. With no guarantee of game time and him having offers in Europe he has a lot to consider.
Neither recieving regular game time in Super Rugby or with Los Pumas are a given. The 30-man roster is to grow with there being places for 45 players, of whom not all will be under contract. Orlandi knows this and is being careful to arrive at his decision. “I have options abroad. What motivates me the most, aside from Los Pumas, is returning to France“.
Orlandi made his debut for Argentina back in 2008 against France in Marseilles. Having stayed in the team until June 2009 he was dropped and would not return until August 2012 as a Rugby Championship replacement.
