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The player exodus from Argentina to Europe continues. The latest departure is that of Juan Cappiello who has signed a deal to play in France. Capitol leaves behind the Argentina XV and also Pucará to play for Carcassonne in the Pro D2.
Carcassonne have acquired the mid-fielder as a medical joker. He will be on the club’s roster for the remainder of the 2017-2018 French season. He is to join fellow Buenos Aires player, Demian Panizzo a the club.
Cappiello has been a mainstay in the Argentina XV in all three Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) tournaments thus far. In this year’s competition, Cappiello started at inside center against the USA, Uruguay and Canada.
Despite still being aged just 25 limited opportunities have presented themselves at Los Jaguares and Los Pumas. While there are no opportunities for higher honors domestically he now has an opportunity in France, a potentially career-defining move.
Carcassonne is facing relegation from the Pro D2 to the Fédérale 1. There are still five rounds to play, six including the ongoing round. Carcassonne are at home against Aurillac this evening. Panizzo is in the starting line-up, named in the second-row.
Below Carcassonne at present is only Narbonne. The club is home to another former Argentina XV player, Segundo Tuculet. He starts in tonight’s match away to Massy.
Cappiello’s departure from Argentina comes a month after Pedro Mercerat left to play in Italy. In playing abroad these players are off-limits for international duty.
