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The Newcastle Falcons have added a fourth Puma to their roster. Flanker Pedro Rubiolo joins the English Premiership side from Argentina. The 20-year-old has signed a long-term deal that will see the recently turned 20-year-old playing for the club for the next two-and-a-half years.
Rubiolo moves to England in his first foreign professional contract. He played for Los Jaguares XV in the 2021 and 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby. He played both second-row and flanker in the unbeaten run in the 2021 season. That year he also toured South Africa with Los Pumitas.
When he next played in South Africa it was to make his test debut. Rubiolo debuted as a teenager for Argentina against the Springboks in the 2022 Rugby Championship. He was a late call-up to the bench to replace the injured Rodrigo Bruni. Rubiolo fit in well; he proved to be up to the standards as a tackler and ball-carrier. He also played flanker for the Argentina XV against Uruguay in 2022.
His move to England sees him becoming a Falcon with immediate effect. Rubiolo joins Argentine winger Mateo Carreras and centers Matías Moroni and Matias Orlando at Newcastle. All three played for Los Pumas in 2022, including in the November win over England in London.
Rubiolo is a product of CRAR – Círculo Rafaelino de Rugby. The traditional club is located in Rafaela in Santa Fé province. Rubiolo is 1.93m (6ft4) tall and weighs 114kg (250 lbs).
