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Germán Kessler has made a late season transfer. The Uruguayan hooker remains in the Pro D2 with Montauban now being his club. Montauban have recruited Kessler as a medical joker from Charente Angoulême XV.
Kessler joined Charente Angoulême XV in October from another French second division side, Provence. It marked a return to Charente whom he played for for two seasons. Prior to that, Kessler played Major League Rugby (MLR) for the Utah Warriors. His Pro D2 record is 13 tries from 78 appearances.
Montauban bring in Germán Kessler with the threat of relegation very much alive. Montauban are presently second from bottom in the Pro D2. Rouen Normandie is last with 34 points while Montauban have 40 and Biarritz, Charente Angoulême XV and Valence Romans are all on 43 points.
The club’s announcement of recruiting the Uruguayan made note of the objective: avoid relegation. The recruitment comes with seven rounds remaining in the regular season. Montauban’s round 30 match will be away to Aurillac on May 17.
Kessler is is well known to rugby purists for his competitiveness in the scrum and as a ball-carrying hooker. He played at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. He was a part of Uruguay’s wins over Fiji in Kamaishi and Namibia in Lyon.
The move to Montauban comes at the age of 29. Of note is that based on his age he may become the first Uruguayan to play in four Rugby World Cups. His arrival in Montauban comes with 65 test caps to his name. He made his test debut against Paraguay in 2015.
Kessler will be able to speak Español with some of his new teammates. Former Pumas flanker Tomás Lezana plays for Montauban as does the uncapped Argentine fullback Segundo Tuculet.
