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The Leicester Tigers have unveiled the signing of Matías Moroni from Los Jaguares. The 29-year-old Argentine back’s arrival comes after the English Premiership club lost veteran center Manu Tuilagi to rivals, the Sale Sharks.
Both Tuilagi and Moroni are natural outside centers. They played against each other at RWC 2019 in Tokyo. On that occasion, however, Moroni played on the right wing. He did so after having been used throughout the 2019 Super Rugby season in the position for Los Jaguares. It saw Jerónimo de la Fuente and Matías Orlando playing in the mid-field.
Argentina’s line-up for the first three, of four, matches at RWC 2019 matches that of Los Jaguares’ 2019. Moroni was the starting right winger against France in Tokyo; Tonga in Osaka; and England in Tokyo. Changes for the final game, against the USA in Kumagaya, saw Moroni on the bench and Bautista Delguy wearing the 14 shirt.
Jerónimo de la Fuente and Matías Orlando were the starting centers for the first three of the four matches. Juan Cruz Mallía replaced Orlando for the final match.
Moroni was the starting outside center for Los Jaguares in their final match before the season was suspended. Following the loss of Orlando after one match, Moroni and rookie Santiago Chocobares were the players used in the position in 2020 with Mallía and Jerónimo de la Fuente playing as the inside centers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped Los Jaguares’ and Argentina’s centers. Moroni’s move to the Leicester Tigers is to be the fourth Argentine center departing for a European club for the upcoming season. Matías Orlando will join the Newcastle Falcons; Jerónimo de la Fuente will play for Perpignan; and Lucas Mensa will do so for Valence Romans.
In addition to the aforementioned centers, there have been additional names to have confirmed their futures abroad. The Argentine mass player exodus is expected to continue as Moroni is the latest Puma leaving the country.
Moroni has been heavily involved for Argentine teams. He made his test debut against Scotland in 2014, played in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and featured in RWCs 2015 and 2019. He currently has 47 caps for Argentina.
