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Uruguay’s Andrés Vilaseca is trading Major League Rugby (MLR) for the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) in 2020. The player has departed Austin and will continue his playing career for Peñarol, Uruguay’s first professional rugby team, confirms Ignacio Chans.
The 28-year-old Vilaseca is among Uruguay’s most established players. With 59 caps to his name he is a rare figure who may yet be able to appear in three Rugby World Cups.
In 2015 Vilaseca started in all four of Uruguay’s Pool matches, doing so against Wales in Cardiff; Australia in Birmingham; Fiji in Milton Keynes; and England in Manchester. Four years on he would replicate this as he started against Fiji in Kamaishi; Georgia in Kumagaya; Australia in Oita; and Wales in Kumamoto.
Not only was Vilaseca ever-present in all eight above RWC matches, but he was a top performer. He was handed the captaincy for Uruguay’s RWC 2019 match against Australia. Moreover, of his 59 caps 56 have been in the starting formation.
Vilaseca’s move to Peñarol follows that of Mateo Sanguinetti from the Houston SaberCats to the club. Indications are that the Peñarol will be highly competent. Among the home players joining the team are front-rowers Diego Arbelo, and Guillermo Pujadas; winger Nicolás Freitas; and the coup of a signing of Santiago Arata.
