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Bristol scouting mission bears fruit with signing of U20s star

Jurenzo Julius of South Africa tackled by Benjamin Elizalde of Argentina during the World Rugby U/20 Championship, 5th Place Semi Final match between Argentina and South Africa at DHL Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)

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.

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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.

Fixture
World Rugby U20 Championship
Australia U20
6 - 14
Full-time
Argentina U20
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“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.

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“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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1 Comment
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CM 311 days ago

Nothing to celebrate. Another Premiership Club paying non English talent. Shameful Bristol.

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RedWarriors 31 minutes ago
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Irish media accurately covered the Taoiseach’s visits to the EU president to reach agreement on ‘not returning to the borders of the past’. The Brexidiots had not even considered this nor had they considered any part of what Brexit might look at.

Morons like Nigel Farage were screaming ‘Traitors’ demanding that article 50 would be triggered. Once it was triggered a two year count down was started to a point where the UK could have been thrown into the World Market only under WTO rules. All the EU had to do was wait and Brexit would eat up its opposition.


Brexidiots talked tough and lied that the EU had more than the UK to lose. But it was all shallow lies ofcourse. All the EU had to do was wait, the UK had put the gun to its own head which would go off at a certain known point in time. The EU had won the negotiation before it had even started.

So we had extensions, more UK tough talking, capitulations, changes of Government and PMs everything you’d expect from a disfunctional state. Farage and Tice who claimed before the vote that ‘No-one is talking about leaving the Customs Union or Single market’ were now screaming about traitors unless the hardest Brexit was not enforced. May, Johnson, Davis, Rabb, Frost etc etc all devoured not by traitorous insiders but by the ridiculousness of their own project.


That is why all Ireland had to do was add the border as a pre requisite. Even Unionists concurred that the EU put a lot more effort into fixing the issues on the ground than the UK. Proving once again how completely unfit you are to Govern. The man who thinks Ireland are the ‘parasites of the world’ gives his opinion on Ireland? Do F**k off f@sc1st Tommie!


But men like Farage and those he represents cashed in big: the grifter made a killing for his cronies before the voting had even stopped at the expense of ordinary people.

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