Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla has joined Racing 92. The fly half has departed Argentina to play for the Parisians in the Top 14. His arrival is not permanent, though, with him instead being contracted for the remainder of 2019 as a medical joker.
Racing 92 are without two fly halves due to RWC 2019. Both Finn Russell (Scotland), and Ben Volavola (Fiji) are to be missing from the club until late October. Their absence has seen Racing 92 requiring additional options and sees an opportunity for Díaz Bonilla.
The 30-year-old Díaz Bonilla was dropped by Argentina for RWC 2019. Head Coach Mario Ledesma instead opted for Nicolás Sánchez and Benjamín Urdapilleta as his fly halves to travel to Japan.
Both Sánchez and Urdapilleta play their rugby in France, doing so for Stade Français and Castres respectively. They were preferred to Díaz Bonilla who was the starting fly half for Los Jaguares for the majority of the Super Rugby season.
Díaz Bonilla would play tests against New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa this year, starting in the last of the three fixtures. He was replaced in that match by Urdapilleta who came on to lift the side, adding a spark which would see him rewarded by Ledesma with RWC selection.
At Racing 92 Díaz Bonilla will join Juan Imhoff to again give the club two reputable Argentine players. Manuel Carizza, Juan Martín Hernández, and Tomás Lavanini are prior instances of notable names at the club from Argentina.
In moving to Racing 92 from Argentina, Díaz Bonilla was given permission from the UAR. He is also going there with a clause in his contract that will enable him to join Los Pumas in Japan as an injury replacement if required.
With the contract confirmed as being on the basis of a medical joker Díaz Bonilla will subsequently return to Argentina. He will play Super Rugby in 2020 for Los Jaguares.
