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Uruguayan prop Diego Arbelo has signed for Rouen from Colorno. The move from Italy to France sees the front-rower joining shortly after hooker Germán Kessler also signed for Rouen Normandie. Arbelo, like Kessler, joins the Nationale club on a two year deal from 2024-2026.
Arbelo is a product of the oldest rugby club outside of Europe. He learned his rugby at MVCC and went on to develop in the Uruguayan High Performance program. Arbelo played for Peñarol from 2000-2023 and subsequently spent a season with Colorno in Italy.
The 29-year-old debuted for Uruguay against Paraguay in 2016. He was a replacement prop while Kessler was the starting hooker. Arbelo fraud for Uruguay at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
In Japan 2019, Arbelo started in the historic win over Fiji in Kamaishi as well as against Australia in Oita and Wales in Kumamoto. He was a replacement against Georgia in Kumagaya.
Arbelo missed Uruguay’s opened fixture of Rugby World Cup 2023. He featured in the second as a replacement against Italy in Nice. He started at tight head prop in Uruguay’s win over Namibia in Lyon and again in the defeat against New Zealand which was also in Lyon.
Uruguay’s July 2024 Internationals are at home against France, New Zealand and Scotland. Arbelo was a replacement in the opening fixture against France. Los Teros are presenting preparing for the second fixture which will be against Los Pumas on Saturday, July 20.
