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An Argentine hooker will remain in the Guinness Pro 14 until 2020. Tomás Baravalle has signed a full-time contract with Benetton Treviso after joining earlier this season as a medical joker.
With one prior cap to his name, Baravalle has been captured by Argentina. He is therefore unable to play for another country. Despite this being the case he is also unable to play for Argentina due to the UAR blocking players based abroad.
Baravalle is an Italian passport holder, meaning he avoids any restrictions on game time in the Guinness Pro 14 or European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions.
Aged 27 he comes from Rosario’s Jockey Club, a club to have produced many Pumas over the years. Eight players have played in Rugby World Cups, doing so from 1987-2011. They are Gustavo Milano (1987), Rodrigo Crexell, Guillermo del Castillo, Fernando del Castillo, Martín Sugasti, Ezequiel Jurado (1995), and Manuel Carizza and Nicolás Vergallo (2011).
Baravalle is one of two Argentine players currently at Benetton Treviso. The other is center Juan Ignacio Brex, a player to have featured for the Argentina XV. Both are playing in Italy now following a lack of opportunities due to Los Jaguares being the only professional team in Argentina.
Since joining Benetton Treviso, Baravalle has made nine appearances in the Guinness Pro 14.
