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Tomás Lavanini is to join the Leicester Tigers after RWC 2019. The vastly experienced 26-year-old will join the English Premiership side in what is to be his second time playing professional rugby in Europe. The move comes with Bordeaux, and La Rochelle also both having been interested.
Lavanini would be one of a number of high-profile signings for Los Jaguares to play in their inaugural Super Rugby campaign in 2016. He signed with the UAR after having played in France for Racing 92 in the 2014-2015 season.
Racing 92 acquired Lavanini following an impressive 2014 Rugby Championship. The second-rower would replaced Patricio Albacete and has permanently been Argentina’s starting player in the no 5 shirt. This has seen him capped on 50 occasions with him joining the 50-cap club in Argentina’s most recent test match which was against Scotland in November.
Lavanini debuted for Argentina in 2013 at the age of 20. His third cap came off the bench against South Africa where he would make his Rugby Championship debut in Mendoza. The following year saw he and Mariano Galarza being the starting combination under Daniel Hourcade.
From 2015 to present Lavanini and Guido Petti have been the regular combination for both Los Pumas, and Los Jaguares. They have been covered by Matías Alemanno and this is expected to continue in 2019 with the trio and Galarza highly likely to play in RWC 2019.
Lavanini is the latest Jaguar to sign to depart Argentina. He follows the likes of Pablo Matera (Stade Français), Martín Landajo (Harlequins), and Santiago García Botta (Harlequins).
The Leicester Tigers are the most successful club in the history of English rugby. The club has won 20 major titles including 10 English Premiership titles, and two in the European Champions Cup.
Notwithstanding the club is currently in its worst position in the professional era. After 17 rounds of the 2018-2019 season Leicester occupy 10th position. The club has 34 points while Worcester have 32, and Newcastle have 29. Avoiding relegation is suddenly a theme for the traditional powerhouses.
The Leicester Tigers is presently the home of Argentine props Gastón Córtes, and Facundo Gigena. The club has also previously been the home of other Argentine players Horacio Agulla, Marcos Ayerza, Gonzalo Camacho, and Lucas González Amorosino.
