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Tomás Cubelli has signed with the UAR. The 28-year-old returns to Argentina after two seasons playing Super Rugby for Australian side the Brumbies. His deal with the UAR is until the end of 2019, making him fully available for Los Pumas and Los Jaguares.
For Cubelli it is both a return home and breaking new ground. The Belgrano Athletic no 9 went through the PladAR system and played all of his rugby in Argentina until joining the Brumbies. This saw him leaving at the same time in which Los Jaguares joined Super Rugby.
On Friday evening Cubelli made his final appearance for the Brumbies, doing so in the team’s home Quarter Finals defeat against the Hurricanes. It was his third of the season after a knee injury saw him out of action from February – June. This also meant his missed Los Pumas’ June Internationals.
With 58 test caps to his name, Cubelli is a true Pumas veteran. He made his debut in 2010 against Uruguay and broke into the senior side to face Tier 1 opposition in 2012. Since then he has been a top two player, regularly swapping with Martin Landajo as Argentina’s starting scrum-half.
In the absence of Cubelli, Landajo started in Santa Fé and San Juan against England and in Jujuy against Georgia last month. For all three internationals Gonzalo Bertranou was back-up to Landajo.
Cubelli will be in direct competition with both Landajo and Bertranou for the Rugby Championship. All three players were named by Daniel Hourcade in a 33-man roster this past week. The trio are expected to be Hourcade’s players in contention for places in Rugby World Cup 2019.
Before Japan 2019 gets underway there is still well over two years of international competition to play. Argentina will play in three Rugby Championships, two November 2017 and 2018 internationals and host June Internationals in 2018.
Cubelli is entering this year’s Rugby Championship will 20 appearances in prior tournament matches. His total of 58 caps makes him the 5th most capped player on the current roster. Those with more are Juan Manuel Leguizamón (77), Martín Landajo (69), Juan Martín Hernández (68) and Agustín Creevy (62).
