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Juan Ignacio Brex will take the step up from the Italian Eccellenza to the Guinness Pro 12 next season. The highly rated outside center has been one of the standout players in the Italian domestic league since joining Viadana in March of last year from home side San Cirano. He currently leads the Eccellenza with nine tries from 13 matches this season, form which will see him play for Benetton Treviso starting in the 2017-18 season.
The 24-year-old has represented Argentina at u20, Sevens, and senior ‘A’ level but has yet to win a cap for the Pumas. With his route to test honors now blocked by the UAR’s overseas player rule and opportunities limited with the Jaguares, Brex will instead look to prove himself in European rugby. Another route to international rugby may exist, however, with an Italian passport thanks to his father giving Brex the option of changing his allegiance to the Azzurri using the Olympic sevens loophole. In this case he would be eligible to pursue Italian sevens representation in June of 2018.
Benetton Treviso have had a poor season in the Pro 12, winning only two matches from 17 under new head coach Kieran Crowley. They will be looking to rebuild for 2017-18 with Highlanders flyhalf Marty Banks and Crusaders loose forward Whetu Douglas among those set to arrive. Also confirmed at Benetton for next season is Italy u20 captain Marco Riccioni, seen by many as a possible long-term tighthead prop for the Azzurri, and 22-year-old Hartpury loose forward Sebastian Negri, who won his first international caps as replacements against the USA and Canada in June of last year.
