He still has a handful of games left at Benetton, but Thomas Albornoz You already know your new goal. In a few weeks he will emigrate to France to work there Toulonwhich marks a big leap in his career. The highest level in Cougars and in Italy they brought him to be one of the protagonists of the Top 14 who want to break the hegemony of Toulouse.
The agreement between Albornoz and Toulon had been closed for a few months, but there were several back and forths. Originally it was supposed to be added after the Pumas’ participation in the Rugby Championship 2025, but the Italian team tried to keep him until June 2026. Finally, in exchange for financial compensation, they agreed that he would transfer in the last days of December in order to be available in January.
“It is a great honor to join Toulonnais Rugby Club, a historic club that every player in the rugby world knows. I have great respect for this institution and for the unique atmosphere of the Stade Mayol. “I arrived with a desire to give my best, continue to improve and contribute to the club’s ambitions,” the full-back said in a statement. He also greeted fans in a video.
The transfer represents a step up in quality for an important player in the Pumas’ structure. Despite some injuries causing him to lose continuity in 2025, The man from Tucuman established himself as number 10 in the Argentine team After the World Cup in France in 2023. He gave the team a greater volume of games and the leadership responsibility never rested on him.
“He is a player who has shown impressive consistency and the ability to drive his team’s game, both at club level and with the Pumas.“, praised him Laurent EmmanuelliToulon sports director. “His profile fits our project perfectly: Ambition, ambition and total commitment. Tomás is a competitor and a leader. “We are confident he will add great value to our team,” he added.
At 28 years old and fully mature, he signed his contract until 2030, which gives him stability in a club with ambitions. Shaped by their galactic signings in the 2010s, Toulon swept to victory won the European Cup three times in a row and also won the Top 14 by Jonny Wilkinson. Now, without that high profile but with a competitive squad, they will look to take over the Bouclier de Brennus.
Last season they were eliminated in the semi-finals and are now third. They are still a step behind Toulouse and Bordeaux Begles, but they have maintained the base and added quality reinforcements; The Italian-Argentinian joined a few months ago Juan Ignacio Brexalso from Benetton.
The Tucumán Rugby trained player has accumulated 68 games and 379 points in the Italian team that participates in the United Rugby Championship. He arrived in the Old Continent in 2021 after taking part in the first full competition of the American Rugby Super League with Jaguares XV. His consolidation in Italy opened the door for Pumas, although Michael Cheika decided not to include him in the France 2023 squad. He had practically no chances in the run-up to the big World Cup event.
The club decided to present it with a very original video in which it played with the name of the Argentine rugby team “Puma” and compared it closely with the cat’s movements.
Albornoz will join the list of great Argentine openers to have worn the Toulon number 10. The first was Gonzalo Quesadain the epilogue of his career when the club played in the second division. Then they passed Felipe Contepomi, Juan Martin Hernandez And Nicholas Sanchez. The man from Tucumán is competing for the position with Paolo Garbisi, one of the Italian stars who can also occasionally play as a center and will leave the club at the end of the season.
Tomás Albornoz’s jump into the top 14 opens the door to Europe for another Argentine flyhalf; Although it hasn’t been officially announced, Nicholas Roger He will be his successor at Benetton. The man from Santiago had an extensive career in various clubs and professional teams until he made a breakthrough in Tarucas this year and received a call-up to the Pumas. He made his debut against England in July, was called up for the Rugby Championship and the November window, but did not take part. At 25, he will join a team that includes his compatriots Thomas Gallo, Bautista Bernasconi, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Thomas Montilla, Giuliano Avaca And Ignacio Mendy.
A week ago, Tomás Albornoz managed a 50-meter drop at Ellis Park. This Saturday he will play against Perpignan in the Challenge Cupto say goodbye to a team that marked a break in his professional career. In less than a month he will take the next step he so desperately needed.
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