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The collapse of London Irish meant Ignacio Ruiz was left without a club. The Argentine hooker will move from the English Premiership to the Top 14. He will play for Perpignan in the French elite league.
London Irish have seen players moving on. Pumas movement has seen Creevy having signed for the Sale Sharks and Lucio Cinti and Juan Martín González will both play for Saracens.
Perpignan are still finalizing their roster for the upcoming Top 14 season. The club is home to Pumas Joaquín Oviedo and Jerónimo de la Fuente. Former Puma Patricio Fernández has departed or Mont de Marsan.
Ruiz made his Pumas debut in 2022 against Scotland at Santiago del Estero. He did so as a 21-year-old. Los Pumas won the match to clinch a series victory. He also played in the November Internationals, featuring from the bench in Los Pumas win over England in London in addition to playing against Wales and Scotland.
His 2022 test caps came a replacement for Julián Montoya and Agustín Creevy. Both men play in the English Premiership as does fellow Pumas hooker Santiago Socino. Ruiz will join former Puma Facundo Bosch in the Top 14.
Montoya, Creevy and Ruiz are Argentina’s three hookers in the 2023 Rugby Championship. Bosch is on the Argentina XV roster to face Chile, Uruguay, and Namibia. Three are expected to be on the roster for the World Cup.
Ignacio Ruiz and his brother Santiago Ruiz are both professional rugby players. Santiago Ruiz captained Los Pampas in Super Rugby Americas 2023. The N8 will continue his career with Benetton in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Ruiz is a native of Buenos Aires and product of Regatas de Bella Vista (URBA). Perpignan will be his third professional rugby club and his first in France. His professional career has involved playing in Argentina for Los Jaguares and in England for London Irish.
