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Marcelo Loffreda has pulled out of his announced Head Coach move to the American Raptors of Super Rugby Americas, with the Colorado-based club citing personal reasons. Countryman and Forwards Coach Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is also out. The duo are replaced by David Butcher and Cory Hector, who join as Head Coach and Attack Coach respectively.
Butcher arrives from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he had been a fulltime Head Coach since 2017. The Scotsman worked as a performance coach for his home union before arriving in Canada. With the Gaels he won three provincial titles and was twice named Coach of the Year. He has also been a Forwards Coach with Canada’s under-20 and senior ‘A’ sides.
Hector is also a three-time Ontario University champion at the helm of the Guelph Gryphons, and a Coach of the Year winner. He had also served as Academy Coach for the Toronto Arrows since their inception and was set to step up to a senior assistant role with the side before they abruptly folded in December.
Former Pumas coach Loffreda was announced a month ago as the incoming Head Coach, with Fernández Lobbe making the switch from the Pampas. Former Eagles prop Sarah Chobot, who held the top job for the Raptors in 2023, remains as Scrum Coach despite Butcher’s expertise at the set piece.
