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La Rochelle are the 2022 Champions of Europe. The French club defeated Irish province Leinster 24-21 to win the Champions Cup title. La Rochelle outscored Leinster by two tries to zero. The win included the involvement of two Argentine front-rowers – Facundo Bosch and Joel Sclavi.
Both players featured from the bench against Leinster. Their involvement was part of an impressive scrum. It forced Leinster back on their own line in the late minutes which saw the French side winning consecutive penalties. Both carried as La Rochelle worked towards a try; the match winner with less than two minutes left to play.
The title is the ultimate accomplishment in European club rugby. La Rochelle are now on top of the world. The team were defeated in the 2021 final by Toulouse. Bosch was involved on that day while the 2022 final was came during Sclavi’s first season with the club.
Bosch made his test debut in the 2018 Rugby Championship. He played in the win over South Africa in Mendoza. In 2020 he played in Argentina’s win over New Zealand in Sydney. Sclavi, on the other hands, is uncapped. This will likely change in the upcoming home series for Los Pumas against Scotland. The hooker is a native of Necochea.
Known as Toro (Bull), Sclavi developed into the player he is while playing abroad. He departed Mar del Plata for France in 2016. There he played in both the Pro D2 and Top 14 for Agen, Charente and Pau. He subsequently returned to Argentina to play for Los Jaguares in Super Rugby and Los Jaguares XV in SLAR before joining La Rochelle.
In addition to La Rochelle’s win, another historic first took place in the final. Joel Sclavi became the first player to win the professional competitions in South America and Europe. He was a 2021 SLAR champion with Los Jaguares XV.
