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Gloucester have signed Santiago Socino from Los Jaguares. He replaces Australian hooker James Hanson. The Argentine forward arrives at Gloucester with immediate effect.
The move comes after Socino’s name was not on Los Jaguares XV’s roster for the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby. It means that the Pumas hooker will be returning to Europe. He was also linked to a move to Bayonne.
It will be Socino’s second time playing in the UK. The now 28-year-old has been a professional rugby player since 2013. He first moved to England at the age of 21 and to English Premiership side the Newcastle Falcons in 2015. He returned to Argentina in 2019 to join Los Jaguares.
The move saw him rewarded with international honors. Santiago Socino made his test debut against Australia in the 2019 Rugby Championship. This saw him matching his brother, Juan Pablo Socino who debuted for Argentina in 2015 and won two caps at RWC 2015. Santiago Socino went to RWC 2019, albeit he did not receive game time. He received three caps as a replacement in the 2020 Tri Nations.
Santiago Socino converted from flanker to hooker while playing in England. Former Pumas captain Agustín Creevy also converted from flanker to hooker in his 20’s. Both men and Montoya have departed Los Jaguares this year.
Gloucester have signed three Pumas during the pandemic. The club signed second-rower Matías Alemanno and fullback Santiago Carreras from Los Jaguares in 2019. Socino joins both in the Tri Nations in Australia. He featured in the first draw against Australia and the loss against New Zealand. He has four test caps to his name.
