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Wasps bring in newly capped Argentina prop as injury cover

01 Dec 2021

(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Wasps have announced the signing of Argentinian loosehead prop Rodrigo Martinez from Paraguayan outfit Olímpia Lions with immediate effect.

The 23-year-old made his debut for the Pumas this year against Australia in the Rugby Championship and went on to earn two more caps, most recently against France.

He will arrive from Súper Liga Americana de Rugby as cover for Ben Harris, who is out with a long-term neck injury. Harris is just one of an extensive injury list at the Coventry Building Society Arena this season.

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Wasps head coach Lee Blackett said: “We are thrilled to add Rodrigo to our squad. He will provide vital cover for us in the front row, while we have some injuries in that area.

“Rodrigo is an exciting young prop, who has impressed for Argentina recently. He will bring a lot to our scrum. Scrum Coach Neil Fowkes and the whole coaching group are looking forward to working with him.

Martínez added: “I am very excited to get the chance to play for Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Olímpia, I really enjoyed my time playing for them and I wish the Club all the best for the future.

“I can’t wait to get started with all my new teammates and hopefully I can have a positive impact.”

Wasps take on Worcester Warriors in the Gallagher Premiership this weekend before Heineken Champions Cup fixtures against Munster and reigning champions Toulouse at the Stade Ernes-Wallon the week after, so Blackett will be all too aware that a tough December awaits.

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Comments on RugbyPass

ch 20 minutes ago

Only two Lions make Gallagher Premiership team of the season

You could be right but look at the players he has to contend with. Roebuck Manny FW Ollie H-C Radwan Sleightholme Murley Muir and Ibitoye. I don’t think he would make the top 4 up against that lot. In the future perhaps he will.

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Cristoir 28 minutes ago

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He is not Leinster so what do we expect.

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Toaster 37 minutes ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

I like top 6

Just enough to have quality teams

We see the blues beat the chiefs

And give enough of a carrot for the bottom 4

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fl 38 minutes ago

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If that’s true, why do URC teams skew towards being older than most of their competitors? And why does Rassie select so few young players?

All the evidence points towards the latest generation of South African players being of a lower standard than previous generations.

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Derek Murray 40 minutes ago

The Reds' 'whimpering' exit shows Super Rugby scrums still matter

AAA and Slips are in top form. Slipper is proving a tough opponent for every TH he faces right now, and his work around the park is top drawer. AAA is unstoppable near the line.

Any chance of some analysis on what makes certain guys tougher to stop there than others, Nick?

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fl 40 minutes ago

Only two Lions make Gallagher Premiership team of the season

Honestly I’m sure if he had the choice he’d rather get a test cap!

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Tom 55 minutes ago

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I now know that Newcastle have signed Jordie Barrett.

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago

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Tk 1 hour ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

The rugby is good but the administration is pretty woeful. What serious competition allows a team to be able to qualify for finals with a losing season record? Does everyone get a cuddle and a Well Done certificate afterwards too? Make all competition rounds mean something - top four into semis then a final. Losers go home. Are we not trying to create an AB team with the mentality to win World Cups?

23 Go to comments

Tk 1 hour ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

Games that matter? What the hell are those 16 rounds meant to be? If only the top 4 go through then every single one of those games should matter. Not just turning up in the last few weeks to get a losers spot. Extended finals and second chances make the rest of the competition Mickey Mouse. Making the finals with a losing record should not be possible end of story.

23 Go to comments

Tk 1 hour ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

No. 16 rounds of regular season play. Win if you want to be the winner.

23 Go to comments

Nickers 2 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

To play in an effective quarterfinal that will be followed by a home semi final whether you win or lose is a farce.

This game should not have taken place, and if they were desperate to do so the teams should have been reseeded afterwards with the “lucky loser” OBVIOUSLY seeded last.

Am I just bitter because the Hurricanes got knocked out? Yes. But also it’s a stupid format.

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Carlos 2 hours ago

The Reds' 'whimpering' exit shows Super Rugby scrums still matter

I do like Geoff’s writing. He is the one I am most likely to read. I miss Harry’s or JD’s articles mostly because I don’t get to the site with enough frequency.

71 Go to comments

Toaster 2 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

There’s always going to be a trade off but also possible positives with injuries and rest

Take Tamaiti Williams as an example

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Carlos 2 hours ago

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A very average side. Too many players with no high level experience. Good I didn’t spend the money to get to Dublin.

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TokoRFC 2 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

Mate, what TK and Ben Smith are forgetting is that a comp needs more games that matter, and its a balancing act getting that right.

They haven’t understood that having so many teams fighting over the 6th spot is what fueled the back end of the regular season. Not to mention the games to decide the top end of the finals seeding. It would have been a bit flat if the 4 bottom teams were out of the running with a few rounds still to go.

The current finals format is a bit funny to get used to, I agree. But if they sort out the scheduling guff where the BRU vs HUR match could have been a non knockout game, as well as giving more punishment for the lucky looser (dropping them to 4th seed in the semis). The current format creates more meaningful matches than the alternatives.

Some examples of finals formats:

Top 6 ≈ 14 matches that matter

With the improvements above, the current system creates 6 competitive finals, plus say 8 matches in the regular season that are effectively knockout games. 14 games that definitely matter. Plus some games to decide the finals seeding in there too.

Top 4 ≈ 10 matches that matter

3 finals matches and say 6 games to fight over the top 4. At a best case you may get 12 crucial games

If offered the choice, the sponsors, the broadcasters, the fans, the players and the all blacks selectors would all take more meaningful games over any alternative format.

23 Go to comments

Gavin 2 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

They tried a bye for the top 2 teams back in the day. It had the opposite effect, as coaches of the teams that had a bye lamented how they felt off pace compared to the sides that just came off a serious challenge the week before.

23 Go to comments

PR 3 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

If you are a Bok supporter (you might not be) you should be grateful that SA is in the URC and Champions Cup. Playing teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and France much better preparation for Test rugby than playing teams from Australia, Fiji, Samoa etc…

I appreciate that you prefer a Super Rugby style of play but maybe give URC another chance. There are some amazing games and rivalries out there.

23 Go to comments

SK 3 hours ago

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