Joe Santamaria: New South American faces in PREM Rugby this season

As the new Prem season draws near and teams begin to finalise their squads, The Rugby Paper takes a look at two South Americans preparing to make a splash, and three more who could follow them.

Joaquín Moro

Argentina back rower Joaquín Moro has already arrived in Leicester, becoming the latest in a long line of Pumas stars at the club.

Equally comfortable at flanker or No.8, Moro faced his new teammates Joe Heyes and Freddie Steward when he came off the bench against England in La Plata last month.

Still only 24, Moro’s journey to Welford Road has been far from typical. A talented basketball player in his youth, Moro played both sports until his late teens, and it wasn’t clear that rugby would win out.

His handling ability and confidence on the ball are clear reminders of the sport’s influence on his rugby.

Before committing to rugby, Moro was studying to be a doctor, and it was only a chat with former Puma, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, that convinced him to dedicate himself to the sport.

Under Leguizamón’s tutelage at Super Rugby Americas side Pampas, Moro has thrived and looks ready to hit the ground running at Leicester.

Simón Benítez Cruz

Amidst the excitement and uncertainty of a takeover, Newcastle have secured the services of Argentine scrum half Simón Benítez Cruz ahead of the new season.

Having made his Pumas debut in July, the move caps off a remarkable breakthrough year for Cruz, who was named the Super Rugby Americas MVP after a series of stunning performances for Argentine franchise, Tarucas.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Cruz, who was used sparingly by former club Pampas during their 2024 campaign.

From the moment he arrived at Tarucas however, he has looked keen to make up for lost time and, at 25, has the maturity to temper his ambitious tendencies.

Blessed with blistering pace, Cruz has represented Argentina in 7s and will have no issues getting Newcastle fans out of their seats.

His incredible individual score against Dogos in May offered a glimpse of what he is capable of if the game begins to break up.

Manuel Ardao

With the unfortunate demise of MLR side, Miami Sharks, a host of South American talent has become unexpectedly available.

Perhaps the most exciting of these players is Uruguayan sensation Manuel Ardao.

One of the most consistently impressive Tier 2 players over recent years, Ardao is without doubt ready to test himself in a major league having been the standout performer in Miami and at former club, Peñarol.

One of the most effective jacklers in the sport, Ardao has added more to his game since the 2023 World Cup and is now a more effective presence in attack.

At 26, he is coming into his prime and could be a superb addition to the league’s enviable roster of flankers.

Santiago Videla

Another former Miami player who could tempt Prem sides is Chile’s Santiago Videla.

At 27, he is already his country’s all-time leading points scorer, and his versatility could prove crucial, especially with budgets tight.

Ostensibly a fly-half, Videla has been employed at inside centre to great effect in recent internationals and even played on the wing during the 2023 World Cup.

With injuries inevitable over a long season, Videla could prove to be a shrewd addition.

Boris Wenger

It is only a matter of time before Argentine loosehead Boris Wenger is snapped up by a major European team.

Having come off the bench for Los Pumas against the Lions, he is still waiting to win his first official cap, but Contepomi and his staff clearly rate him enormously.

At 23, Wenger is still learning his tradE, but the sky is the limit for him, given his raw physical attributes. Despite only standing at 5 ft 10 in, he is ferociously strong and a fierce scrummager.

However, his greatest asset is his engine as he regularly plays 70+ minutes for his franchise, Dogos, and gets through a mountain of work.

He may not be the finished article yet, but plenty of teams will rue the decision to pass up on him when he becomes the player he looks set to become.

By Joe Santamaria

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