Jerónimo de la Fuente will captain the Jaguares in the 2019 Super Rugby season. The announcement was made on Wednesday that the 27-year-old midfielder would take over the role to relieve pressure on new Pumas captain Pablo Matera in a World Cup year.
It’s the third captain in three years for Los Jaguares, with Agustín Creevy preceding Matera in the role. Creevy saw his captaincy of both the Jaguares and Pumas shift to Matera in 2018, and as expected new Jaguares coach Gonzalo Quesada has preferred to keep the two leadership roles separate.
de la Fuente has been a staple in the Jaguares match day squad since its inception, playing more than 10 matches in each of the three seasons. He has 48 test caps for Argentina and has been the incumbent starter at inside centre starting in 2017.
Highly regarded by his peers for his professionalism, de la Fuente will have plenty of experienced advisors to call upon with Creevy, Matera, and returning Joaquín Tuculet all able to provide assistance. Martín Landajo and Tomás Lezana have also captained the side previously in a stand-in capacity.