Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Leonardo Senatore is the new Head Coach of Peñarol. The Argentine will be in charge of Uruguay’s professional rugby team in Super Rugby Americas 2024. Senatore replaces fellow Argentine Pablo Bouza who is now the Head Coach of Spain.
Bouza was an assistant to Esteban Meneses at Rugby World Cup 2023. Meneses was Head Coach of Uruguay at both Rugby World Cups 2019 and 2023. He took charge of Los Teros from December 2015 and has coached the team for the final time. Uruguay, who enjoyed great success under Meneses, will appoint a new Head Coach in 2024.
Meneses coached Uruguay to wins over Fiji at Japan 2019 and Namibia at France 2023. Bouza coached Peñarol to two titles: Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) 2022 and Super Rugby Americas 2023. Senatore was an assistant coach to the American Raptors in the latter of the two.
The appointment of Senatore represents freshness; he has not previously coached a team at this level. His resumé was impressive as a professional rugby player. The N8 from Rosario, Argentina played in Rugby World Cups 2011 and 2015. This included appearing in two Quarter Finals and one Semi Final.
Senatore also played for top teams. The product of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Rosario (GER) in Rosario played in the Top 14 for Toulon, in the English Premiership for the Worcester Warriors and in Super Rugby for Los Jaguares. He is Puma #696 and earned 50 test caps for Los Pumas. He takes control of Peñarol at the age of 39.
The Peñarol roster for Super Rugby Americas 2024 will have some key perusal changes to that from Super Rugby Americas 2023. The reigning Super Rugby Americas champions are presently being hit by a player exodus. Uruguay’s Peñarol has seen half a dozen players confirm their playing future abroad for 2024 and others may well join them.
Captain Manuel Ardao and vice-captain Felipe Etcheverry will both be continuing their careers in Major League Rugby (MLR) for newcomers the Miami Sharks. Tomás Inciarte will be joining them while Ignacio Dotti will be playing for Old Glory DC. In addition, Felipe Aliaga is finalizing a deal with Rugby New York while Diego Arbelo now plays in Italy for Colorno.
