Adios y Gracias Martín Scelzo!

The playing career of Pumas veteram prop, Martín Scelzo has reached its conclusion. The 126KG tighthead prop is nothing less than a rugby legend having competed at four Rugby World Cup´s and contributing massively to Argentina´s rise to becoming a Tier One rugby nation and World Cup contender. His international career stretches a decade and a half as he played his first international match back in September 1996 vs the USA and played his last in October 2011 vs New Zealand in the World Cup Quarter Final. Scelzo played a total of 59 tests and was at his peak in France 2007 when he created global headlines for his performances as part of the Bronze Medal team that defeated France, Georgia, Namibia, Ireland and Scotland to shake up the global rugby order and change it for the better. At the tournament, Scelzo was Argentina´s starting tighthead prop, holding off Omar Hasan who would go on to be voted as the greatest tighthead prop in the history of the Rugby World Cup.

Scelzo leaves O´Driscoll  behind
(see video below)

Regarded as a complete player, Scelzo was commonly seen clearing out rucks and bullying opposition scrums whether it be for club of country. He was also a quality ball carrier and was regarded as being amongst the best tighthead props on the planet. Scelzo was also a very humble guy who played for his teammates and put everything he could into playing for Los Pumas. He formed a formidable combination with Mario Ledesma for both Clermont and Argentina with the pair joining Rodrigo Roncero to be considered the best frontrow of Rugby World Cup 2007. Four years latter Scelzo, as a 35 year old, was still good enough to make the squad and was used as Argentina´s replacement prop with Juan Figallo joining Ledesma and Roncero as tghe starting frontrow combination. Scelzo proved to still have it in him as he put in a strong performance in Argentina´s do-or-die win over Scotland in Wellington. Scelzo came on as a firsthalf replacement for Roncero. In his international career, Scelzo scored ten test tries, a very high number for a prop forward. His final try came in 2011 vs Wales in a World Cup warm up match. 


Scelzo played professional rugby at the highest level in Europe winning the Heineken Cup with the Northampton Saints in 2000 and the Top 14 with Clermont a decade on in the year 2010. He has opted to stop now despite still having one year remaining on his contract with Agen with whnm he played 15 matches this season. Scelzo leaves rugby aged 36 but is not returning to Argentina just yet. He may take up a coaching position with a espoirs Top 14 side. He is a father of four.

Agulla Try with Scelzo running over Brian O´Driscoll, 2007

Argentine National Anthem - Rugby World Cup 2007

Top 14 Final, 2010

Final Try vs Wales, 2011

Esteban Lozada joins Agen on two year deal

As pointed out previously on Argentina2023, former Pumas secondrower Esteban Lozada will be playing his rugby in France next season following the end of his two year contract with Edinburgh. While playing in Scotland, Lozada fell out of favor with Pumas selectors despite making 34 appearances for Edinburgh in Celtic-Italian League (Rabo Direct Pro 12) and Heineken Cup matches. Lozada now has the chance to play his way back into Los Pumas playing for his new club, Agen. His contract with the Southwestern French club is for two years and marks a return to the Top 14 after he had previously played for Toulon from 2007-2010.

His return to France comes on the back of his performances vs Top 14 side Racing Métro in the Heineken Cup in which the Scottish side defeated the Parisians both home and away. Talks with Agen started in January with the club liking what they saw from the former Puma. Now aged 30, Lozada, it would seem, has one final chance of representing his country as Argentina are set to play a record twelve tests in 2012. Should he not return it would be a tough road making the squad considering 2013 will officially be the start of preperation for Rugby World Cup 2015. He is the same age as Argentina´s leading secondrwoer, Patricio Albacete, and older than the three others who went to Rugby World Cup 2011.

Belisario Agulla signs on for two more years at Agen

Having been bought in as a medical joker in August Belisario Agulla has proven his weight in the Top 14 Orange and has now earned himself a permanent contract with French club Agen in a new two year deal. The 23 year old former Los Pampas XV outside back and the young brother of first choice Argentine winger, Horacio Agulla is a player to keep an eye on for the future. His hard work at the club this season has seen him become a regular in the team in recent matches and with the USA´s Kevin Swiryn retiring this is only going to continue. 

With Argentina playing twelve tests this year, rather than the normal number of six, his chances of joining Horacito in Los Pumas have been enlarged. He will need to continue working hard in the remaining Top 14 Orange matches in April and May. Agen have four games left and should be targeting two wins at least. The remaining games are against Toulon, Bordeaux-Begles, Bayonne and Racing Métro. Should Belisario Agulla start in these games his chances of featuring vs Italy in San Juan will be amplified. The match will be played on the same day as the Top 14 final and it is expected that Santiago Phelan will be resting players from the Semi Final the previous week as well as the Aviva Premiership Final. This could mean that of the World Cup wingers only Gonzalo Camacho will feature vs the Italians. 

Belisario Agulla´s new contract will see him will continue to play alongside the former Pumas pair of centre Miguel Avramovic and tighthead prop Martín Scelzo. A fourth Argentine player looks set to be joining the club with Esteban Lozada hihgly likely to leave Edinburgh for a return to France.