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Ignacio Péculo has signed for the Chicago Hounds. The team from the Windy City has secured the signature of the Uruguayan tight head prop. The 24-year-old was a stand-out in Super Rugby Americas 2023. He takes 16 test caps of experience with him to Chicago.
His talent was recognized early; Péculo made his test debut for Uruguay in 2000. He did so against Spain in what was a home defeat in Montevideo. Péculo was a replacement for loose head prop Matías Benítez. Diego Arbelo was the starting tight head with Mateo Perillo being his understudy.
Uruguay’s High Performance Center and Super Rugby Americas combined to see Péculo developing significantly. He played for Los Teros at Rugby World Cup 2023. He featured against France in Lille, against Italy in Nice and against New Zealand in Lyon. Uruguay’s remaining match was a win against Namibia in Lyon.
Péculo is the seventh Uruguayan from the Super Rugby Americas 2023 champions to depart Peñarol. ARN can confirm that the Peñarol player exodus is not yet over; more players will be playing outside of Uruguay in 2024.
Arbelo now plays his rugby in Italy. The starting hooker that day against Spain was Facundo Gattas. He is now a veteran of MLR for Old Glory DC. Gattas will be joined by second-rower Ignacio Dotti at DC in MLR 2024. Fellow second-rower Felipe Aliaga will play for New York while Peñarol has lost Manuel Ardao, Felipe Etcheverry and Tomás Inciarte to the Miami Sharks.
Peñarol defeated Los Dogos 23-17 in the Super Rugby Americas 2023 Final. Péculo started at tight head prop. He scored the opening try of the match, forcing his way over to score in the 17th minute. He also scrummed well in the final.
