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Peñarol’s rebuilding will require extra blocks. Flanker Eric Dosantos is the latest regular from the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) / Super Rugby Americas 2020-2023 who will not be a part of the team in 2024.
Dosantos will not continue playing for either Uruguay or Peñarol in 2024. The back-rower is stepping away from professional rugby to focus on his engineering career. This means he will no longer be a part of Uruguay’s High Performance system.
The age of 28 is young for retirement; indeed, Dosantos is in his prime. The product of the Lobos club featured for Uruguay against Namibia at Rugby World Cup 2023. It was his 17th test cap. Dosantos debuted for his country in 2020 against Spain in a home test match in Montevideo.
The 1.90m (6ft3) tall and 99kg (220lbs) Dosantos was a regular for Uruguay and Peñarol during the RWC 2019-2023 cycle. The shortage of tall-timber saw Dosantos playing a lot of the time in the second-row. It was testament to his abilities as he is neither tall nor heavy for a flanker.
SLAR 2022 saw Dosantos holding down a starting spot in the forward, but in the second-row. He was a constant in the engine-room and was a try-scorer in the SLAR Final wherein Peñarol defeated Selknam for South American glory.
Dosantos became a two-time champion in 2023. This time he was playing in his natural position of flanker. Dosantos was a replacement for Peñarol in the Super Rugby Americas 2023 Final against Los Dogos.
Peñarol’s roster for Super Rugby Americas 2024 is yet to be announced. What can be confirmed is that there will be many changes to that; the champions will be without ten or more of Uruguay’s finest players who are now playing elsewhere or have retired.
Many from the Super Rugby Americas 2024 final have debated Peñarol. Hooker Guillermo Pujadas and tight head Ignacio Péculo have joined the Chicago Hounds. Second-rower Ignacio Dotti is back in the MLR while Felipe Aliaga may join him too. Flanker Manuel Ardao, center Tomás Inciarte and fly half Felipe Etcheverry have joined the Miami Sharks.
Dosantos’ retirement follows that of fullback Rodrigo Silva who started in the 2024 Final. Meanwhile, Diego Arbelo is now playing his rugby in Italy and that Nicolás Freitas will not be fit for Super Rugby Americas 2024. Freitas was expected to return to Peñarol from Vannes after the World Cup. He is instead to undergo surgery in January.
