Bristol scouting mission bears fruit with signing of U20s star
Bristol Bears have announced the signing of Argentina U20s fullback Benjamin Elizalde one week after their fifth-place finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The 19-year-old will arrive at Ashton Gate from Deportiva Francesa.
RugbyPass had reported that Bristol had sent scouts out to the World Championship in South Africa, and the mission appears to have paid off already, with Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam describing the Argentine as "one of the most exciting young talents in the world game."
Elizalde can operate across the back three, as well as the midfield, and will help bolster Bristol's kicking options next season.
With Piers O'Conor and Virimi Vakatawa leaving the club at the end of last season, Elizalde will provide options in the back line for Lam.
"I am very happy to have signed with Bristol and for the opportunity they have given me," the teenager said after signing.
“It is a very prestigious club with great players from whom I can learn a lot. I can’t wait to start training with the team and to fight for my place alongside a fantastic squad.”
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “Benjamin is one of the most exciting young talents in the world game and I’m really pleased to bring him into the Bears environment.
“His performances for Argentina at the Junior World Cup showcased his obvious talent and I believe he will have the opportunity to further develop his potential at the Bears within our environment.
“We have been monitoring Benjamin closely for a while now and we know how highly rated he is by Felipe Contepomi and his Argentina coaching team. Benjamin’s well-rounded skillset, ability to play across the backline and attacking threat fits the Bears Way perfectly.”
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Spectacular fail at whatever point you were trying to make. The Boks currently is unbeatable, using 2 different teams, 3 different times during this RC. How many teams can claim that? Now because nothing the haters say matters as everyone sees their willful hate speech for what it is, you try to pop in the political scene of SA as some reason that makes no sense at all. The political situation in SA is highly volatile, the country's crime rate is through the roof and it's not a safe country, no matter how beautiful it is. Which just makes what the SPRINGBOKS did, and is still doing that much more AMAZING. For such a broken country to bring forth such talent and for such racist people (just not true) to work together to go back to back WC champs, nevermind all the other current achievements, they seem to be united in passion and love for the sport that no other country possess. Who are you to try and minimise what other people go through? To make lite of our hardships? Our struggles? What a small excuse of a cockroach you are. You should be ashamed
Go to commentsHe’s 106kg
Needs to stack some weight on
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