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The Houston SaberCats have added three front row forwards for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Props Mateo Sanguinetti and Matt Almeida are joined by hooker Jason Harris-Wright, the first arriving from Uruguay and the last from England.
Sanguinetti becomes the fourth Teros international to sign for the club following Diego Magno, Alejandro Nieto, and Santiago Arata. The 26-year-old loosehead specialist has been an ever-present in the Uruguayan test side since his debut in 2014 and started two matches at the 2015 World Cup. Relatively light for a modern prop, he is renowned for his technical expertise in the scrum and mobility in the loose.
Joining from Bristol in the RFU Championship is hooker Jason Harris-Wright. The Dublin native represented Ireland up to under-20 level and began his professional career in 2009 with Leinster. After a brief first spell with Bristol he moved to Connacht where he had more than 50 appearances across all competitions despite injuries hampering his final two seasons with the Guinness Pro 12 side. The 30-year-old was a regular starter with Bristol last season as they won promotion to the Premiership.
A relative unknown is 24-year-old tighthead prop Almeida. Tipping the scales at an impressive 315lbs (143kg) he casts a formidable shadow in the scrum and is deceivingly agile, having spent two seasons playing in the backline for Division 3 side South Valley Bucks. Almeida is of Portuguese and Tongan heritage but is USA-born.
In other news, loose forward Mathew Faoagali will no longer be suiting up for the team in 2019. The loose forward signed in October but has instead opted to return to Australia. Alex Elkins, previously selected as a winger, will cover the back row where he has been training and playing with the West Houston Lions.
