Benetton’s healthy supply of Argentine players is set to grow. Another Argentine hooker will play in the European elite. Benetton are recruiting 21-year-old Bautista Bernasconi. The move will be the first foreign experience for Bernasconi.
In terms of Argentine players, Benetton leads the United Rugby Championship (URC). Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Thomas Gallo, Tomás Albornoz, Joaquín Riera, Manuel Arroyo are at the club as are Argentine players Juan Ignacio Brex and Iván Nemer, both of whom are capped by Italy.
A Pleno Rugby report that Bernasconi traveled to Italy in November to obtain citizenship. This will enable him to play for the Italian side; Benetton have already reached the maximum number of foreign player permitted by the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR). As such, Bernasconi will not count as a foreigner.
Tetaz Chaparro, Gallo and Albornoz are firmly established on Michael Cheika’s roster and are well-positioned to feature prominently at Rugby World Cup 2023. Bernasconi is a longterm option for Argentina at hooker.
Bernasconi played for the Argentina XV in 2022. He featured against Georgia and Portugal on the July tour and against Uruguay later on in the year. His call-up came following an impressive season in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby 2022 for Los Jaguares XV.
Argentina’s two teams in Super Rugby Americas 2023 are Los Dogos and Los Pampas. Bernasconi’s name was missing from both as he will instead he continuing his career abroad.
Another Argentine hooker recently departed Benetton. Former Puma Tomás Baravalle is continuing his career with the Dallas Jackals in Major League Rugby (MLR). As noted, Benetton is home to an Argentine hooker – Manuel Arroyo. Additional Argentine hookers in the European elite are Facundo Bosch, Agustín Creevy, Pablo Dimcheff, Julián Montoya, Ignacio Ruiz, and Santiago Socino.
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