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Chile will have a player in France’s elite. The Top 14 will be home to Diego Escobar. The story was first reported by Chilean Rugby experts, Rugby Chile on January 26. It has since been confirmed with Escobar indeed joining Racing 92 on a three-year-deal. He will make the move to France following the 2024 July Internationals and be contracted to the Parisians until mid 2028.
Escobar was named on Selknam’s roster for Super Rugby Americas 2024. He is one of 18 players from Chile’s World Cup roster who will play for Selknam in this year’s edition of the South American professional league.
The move comes following Escobar’s limited but impressive World Cup. He won many supporters in Chile’s debut appearance against Japan in Toulouse. Injury cut his tournament short, but it was his performance on that day which underlined him to new audiences as a hooker of genuine potential.
Both Diego Escobar and his brother Alfonso Escobar played for Chile at the World Cup. Their father, Alfonso also played test rugby for Chile. A record four sets of brothers were on Los Cóndores’ roster. Diego Escobar made his test debut against Russia in 2021. He signs for Racing 92 with 7 caps to his name.
Escobar had been on trial with Racing 92 in January. Rugby Chile note that the 23-year-old left a positive impression on the Parisians’ technical staff, led by for England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster. The move means he will play alongside world class players including South African captain Siya Kolisi, Fijian star Josua Tuisova, English stars Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell and big name French players such as Gael Fickou, and Cameron Woki.
The club is presently home to Juan Imhoff. The veteran Pumas winger has played for Racing 92 since 2011. Other Pumas to have played for the club include Patricio Albacete, Emiliano Boffelli, Manuel Carizza, Álvaro Galindo, Juan Martín Hernández, Juan Pablo Orlando and Hall of Famer Agustín Pichot.
The Chilean hooker will be the only Chilean at the club and, for the time being, the only Chilean in the Top 14. The front-rower from the COBS club in Santiago will be the fourth Chilean to play in the Top 14. Chile’s prior Top 14 players are Sergio Valdes, Pablo Huete, and Ramón Ayarza.
