Argentina Mass Player Exodus

Due to COVID-19 Los Jaguares participation in Super Rugby 2020 officially ended early. As as June 06, 2020 it was evident that players would depart and the UAR had encouraged them to take offers from abroad.

The first 2020 Jaguar to depart for abroad was Guido Petti who joined Bordeaux. He had also been linked to Stade Français, who signed Marcos Kremer. Based on their ages both players are yet to reach the peak of their careers, yet they are clear first-choice players for Los Pumas.

Petti and Kremer were the first wave of 2020 departures. The second is now taking place and is bigger than the first. It has seen Los Jaguares’ captain Jerónimo de la Fuente join Perpignan, Matías Orlando signing for the Newcastle Falcons and Matías Alemanno joining Gloucester. It was furthered with center Matías Moroni and fly half Joaquín Díaz Bonilla joining the Leicester Tigers, Bautista Delguy joining Bordeaux, Tomás Cubelli and Julián Montoya joining the Western Force and Lucas Paulos signing for Brive.

The above mentioned players were all involved in Los Pumas’ RWC 2019 opening match against France. They did so after having been a part of Los Jaguares’ road to the 2019 Super Rugby final. Also involved were Los Pumas captain Pablo Matera, winger Ramiro Moyano and second-rower Tomás Lavanini. In other words, seven prominent players from the 2019 campaign have left Los Jaguares for Europe. Furthermore, Nicolás Sánchez left after the 2018 season.

de la Fuente and Orlando were the mid-field combination in the Super Rugby final. They also started against France in Tokyo. Also on the roster was Lucas Mensa. He featured as a replacement against England and, in 2020, captained Los Ceibos in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR).

Mensa was a part of the first wave. He joined Valence Romans who will be a rival of Perpignan in the Pro D2. Two other backs are also now gone from Argentina. First, Bautista Ezcurra will be playing for Atlanta in Major League Rugby. Second, Facundo Cordero joined the Exeter Chiefs.

Also departing Argentina is Pablo Dimcheff. The 21-year-old hooker signed for Charente to play in the Pro D2. He has done so as a player who had been lined-up as a future Jaguar. He played for Los Jaguares XV in 2019 and was a Ceibo in 2020. Santiago Montagner also left Los Ceibos for France. Also leaving is former Jaguares and Pumas captain, Agustín Creevy. He left for London Irish.