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The Miami Sharks continue to piece-together their player roster for Major League Rugby (MLR) 2024. In what will be their debut MLR season, the Miami franchise is working hard to bring in reputable talent. This continues with the signing of Santiago Videla, a starter for Los Cóndores at the World Cup.
Videla makes the move to the USA from his native Chile. It comes in the former of a move from Selknam in Super Rugby Americas to the Miami Sharks in MLR. Videla is very well-known to rugby lovers in North America. He kicked Chile past the USA in July 2022 to qualify for the World Cup.
Videla played wing that day in Denver and also did so at the World Cup itself. This was based on the needs of Chile more than anything else. Videla has played fly half, inside center and fullback for Selknam and has also played across the positions for Los Cóndores.
The 25-year-old’s move to the Miami Sharks marks his first experience playing professional rugby abroad. He played for Selknam in 2020-2023 in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) which was rebranded to Super Rugby Americas in 2023.
For Chile the move is the fourth player to foreign clubs since the World Cup. Captain Martín Sigren played for Doncaster Knights in England before the World Cup and will now play MLR for the New England Free Jacks. Center Domingo Saavedra will join NOLA Gold. Fly half Rodrigo Fernández is playing for Petrarca in Italy.
This will have the affect of Selknam’s 2024 roster containing new blood, potentially together with the recruitment of Argentines. In order to provide players with opportunities, Selknam went for Chile-only roster for the 2023 campaign.
The Miami Sharks look like fielding a competitive team for their MLR 2024 opener on March 02. This includes a notable Latino influence. Argentine José Pellicena is Head Coach and Uruguayan Oscar Duran assistant. Puma Tomás Cubelli and Teros Felipe Etcheverry, Manuel Ardao and Tomás Inciarte have all signed. Eagles capped Argentine Benjamín Bonasso is also on the roster.
Videla made his test debut for Chile against Hong Kong as a teenager in 2017. He moves to the Miami Sharks with 28 test caps to his name.
