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Toulouse have re-signed Santiago Chocobares. The French champions signed Chocobares from Los Jaguares XV earlier this year. He went on to feature prominently, including starting for the club in a Top 14 title winning effort. He and Juan Cruz Mallía both won the French championship after arriving as medical jokers.
Chocobares is one of Argentina’s most promising up-and-coming talents. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2020, doing so after having gone through the PladAR system. This saw him rise from u20s to Los Jaguares. He made five appearances for the Argentine franchise before the 2020 season was suspended.
He was included on Mario Ledesma’s 45-man roster for the 2020 Tri Nations. He was one of six centers on the roster. The others were Jerónimo de la Fuente, Juan Cruz Mallía, Lucas Mensa, Matías Orlando and Lucio Cinti.
Mallía is also on the Toulouse roster. He is also in talks to remain at Toulouse. A new contract is forthcoming. Mallía joined Chocobares in winning the Top 14 Final. It was his second title in quick time; he scored the match-winner for Toulouse in the European Champions Cup Final.
Chocobares impressed in the training and was rewarded. He started at inside center in the first and second matches. They were the historic win over New Zealand and the first of two draws against Australia. His debut cap brought him the rare feat of winning on debut against the All Blacks.
The 22-year-old Santiago Chocobares comes from Rufino in Santa Fé province. The town has a population of 20,000. He learned his rugby playing for Los Pampas in Rufino before continuing at Duendes in the city of Rosario. The same club produced his Pumas teammates Emiliano Boffelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, and Juan Imhoff.
Toulouse sealed a 2 season contract with Chocobares. Santiago will play at Stade Toulousain until World Cup 2023.
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— CrewSOut (@crew_s_out) July 6, 2021
