Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Bristol Bears have signed Benjamín Elizalde from Argentina. The fullback joins the English Premiership side after impressing for Argentina at the World Rugby u20 Championship. He played in all matches for Los Pumitas who finished 5th.
Elizalde follows his captain Efraín Elías in departing Argentina for Europe. After playing an important part in Los Dogos Super Rugby Americas title, Elías has joined giants Toulouse in France. Elizalde started at fullback for Los Pampas in the Super Rugby Americas Final.
Elizalde and Elías both missed part of the Super Rugby Americas season. They were on the Pumitas roster for the Rugby Championship u20 tournament in Australia. Argentina opened with a win over Australia.
Los Pumitas claimed a second win over Australia at the World Rugby u20 Championship. After losing to champions England first up, Argentina went unbeaten for the remainder of the tournament. Los Pumitas defeated South Africa convincingly and dominated Fiji before beating South Africa for a second time in the tournament.
Elizalde played fullback in World Rugby’s u20 tournament this year, occasionally kicking goals. Fullback is his natural position though he has played at both outside center and wing for Los Pampas. He was a replacement at the senior level for the Argentina XV against Chile on two occasions and also against Uruguay in Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up matches.
The 20-year-old is a Puma in waiting. ARN projects that Elizalde will be wearing a Pumas shirt in the not too distant future, most likely in a test match this year. Martín Bogado and Santiago Cordero started the July matches against France with Cordero also starting against Uruguay. Regular fullback, Juan Cruz Mallía rested after a busy season in France and the international duty before that.
The Bristol Bears now have three Argentines. Elizalde joins fellow uncapped player Benjamín Grondona. He joined the team this past season. It saw him linking up with his brother Santiago Grondona who sat out the season following knee surgery that shattered his World Cup dream.
Elizalde 188cm (6ft 2) tall and weighs 93kg (205lbs). He is a product of Tigers RC in Salta province in Northern Argentina. He went through Argentina’s High Performance system. This also saw hm playing for Juan Martin Hernández and Rodrigo Roncero’s home club of Deportiva Francesa in Buenos Aires.
