Sale Sharks programme - 2021

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He says: “In Argentina we have our big
Christmas celebration and exchange gifts
on the night of December 24, and have our
main meal that night. It’s hot in Argentina at
this time of year so the meal is normally a
big BBQ outdoors, and it’s a lot different
over here. I’m just hoping Santa Claus
gives me the gift of a few rugby games!
“I’m on my own here at the moment, but my
girlfriend is coming over after Christmas.
Mateo Carreras is like my son here in
Newcastle so I have to look after him a little
bit, and it’s nice having someone at the
club to speak Spanish with. My English
was terrible when I first arrived, but I’m
getting a little bit better now.”
Embracing life in North East England, he
adds: “When I heard that Newcastle were
interested in signing me I spoke with a few
Argentinean players who have been here
before, guys like Beli Agulla, Juan Pablo
Socino and Gonza Tiesi. They told me it
was very cold but that the city and the club
is really nice, and everything they’ve said
has been true. They said the club was very
friendly, and when I spoke with Dean
Richards I just said ‘yeah, I want to come
and be part of it’.
“Before I arrived in Newcastle I thought the
cold wasn’t going to be a problem, but
when I got here I was like ‘OK, this is
actually freezing’, and we were doing things
like coming in to sweep the snow from the
pitch at the stadium so the games could go
ahead. I didn’t speak much English at the
time so it was difficult to begin with, but I
can honestly say that every single person at
the club helped me. They helped me sort a
house, car, make friends and just do
everything, and I think that was the most
important thing for me.
“Playing rugby in a different language was
really, really hard, and especially with the
weather here. I’ve learned that you need to
change your tactics to suit the conditions,
and I think of the wind as like being a third
team on the field. You’re playing against the
opposition and also against the wind, and
it’s just not something I’d ever had to think
about before.”
Confident that good times are around the
corner, he says: “I enjoy being in
Newcastle, but it’s tough when you want to
play rugby but you’re injured.
“I try to enjoy different things when I’m not
able to play, but I find it really difficult
coming to watch the games when I’m
injured. I’ll sit in the stands and try to
support the boys as best I can, but all I’m
really thinking about is the pain that I’m in
and the fact I want to be playing.
“The boys have made a good start to the
season overall though – similar to last
season, really – but we need to keep the
levels high.
“We shouldn’t stress out because we lost
our last league match at London Irish,
because it’s just one game. We’re still a
good team, and playing Sale Sharks at
home on Boxing Day is a big opportunity for
us to show it.”
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