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Dragons lock down Pumas' nine Bertranou

(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Argentina international scrum half Gonzalo Bertranou will remain a Dragon after agreeing terms to extend his stay with the PRO14 side.

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The 26-times capped international star, who appeared for the Pumas in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, joined the Dragons in February on a deal until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old – who has made seven appearances for Dragons – has now agreed an extension to remain at Rodney Parade as the squad continues to take shape for the 2021/22 season.

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“Gonzalo has been a revelation for us since he arrived and so we are very pleased he is staying with us,” said Director of Dragons Rugby, Dean Ryan. “He has really increased the competition for nine jersey and it has helped bring out the best in players like Rhodri Williams.

“His international experience and skill set is also beneficial for the development of our young players.

“Gonzalo helps enable us to play a fast game and he is clearly enjoying the environment and looking to push himself in a new competition.”

Bertranou joined after a playing spell with Jaguares in Super Rugby and is delighted to commit to Dragons.

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“I’m pleased to stay and continue my rugby journey with Dragons,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed playing in a new tournament and the environment we have here, with a close squad who are pushing each other.

“It’s been an unusual time to move to a new country but I’ve been made very welcome and now I look forward to fans returning and playing for them at Rodney Parade.”

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GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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