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The Bristol Bears have completed the signing of Pedro Rubiolo. The English Premiership club will be the new home of Pedro Rubiolo who is playing his second season for the Newcastle Falcons. Rubiolo will join the Bristol Bears on a three-year-deal beginning in mid 2025.
The 21-year-old Rubiolo is one of the biggest rising names in Argentine rugby. Rubiolo played for his country in wins over France, Uruguay, New Zealand, South Africa and Italy in 2024. It is his breakthrough year as in 2024 he has become a first-choice second-rower for Los Pumas. He has overtaken Matías Alemanno, Tomás Lavanini, Guido Petti and Lucas Paulos. Rubiolo and Franco Molina have been the usual starting locks for Argentina in 2024.
Rubiolo has been named to start for Argentina against Ireland in Dublin on Friday. He will earn his 19th test cap. His future teammate, Santiago Grondona has been named as a replacement. Santiago Grondona and Rubiolo both started in the win over Italy in Udine last Saturday.
In addition to Santiago Grondona, Rubiolo will also join two other Argentines at the Bristol Bears. The uncapped Benjamín Grondona and Benjamín Elizalde also both play for the Bristol Bears.
Rubiolo decided on the Bristol Bears while also having offers from Gloucester and Perpignan. He joined the Newcastle Falcons in January 2023 on a two-and-a-half year deal following two seasons for Los Jaguares XV in Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR – now Super Rugby Americas). He played both second-row and flanker in the unbeaten run in the 2021 season.
He earned his call-upon to Los Pumas as a teenager. Rubiolo debuted for Argentina against the Springboks in the 2022 Rugby Championship. Rubiolo fit in well; he proved to be up to the standards as a tackler and ball-carrier. He also played flanker for the Argentina XV against Uruguay in 2022.
Rubiolo is a product of CRAR – Círculo Rafaelino de Rugby. The traditional club is located in Rafaela in Santa Fé province. Rubiolo is 1.93m (6ft4) tall and weighs 114kg (250 lbs).
