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Gigena signs on at London Irish a day after Leicester release confirmed

(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

London Irish have completed the signing of Facundo Gigena, the 26-year-old loosehead who was released on Monday by Leicester along with Blake Enever, who has headed home to Australia after less than a year in England. 

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Gigena joined the Tigers in January 2018 from Argentine Super Rugby team, the Jaguares. The 26-year-old made 45 appearances since his debut in an Anglo-Welsh Cup win over Cardiff Blues at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in January 2018. 

The prop missed part of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign after having to return to South America due to visa issues before returning to Tigers midway through the restarted season. He has now quickly joined Irish as a free agent following his top-of-the-week release from Leicester. Gigena said: “I’m happy to be here and really looking forward to my time with London Irish.

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“When the opportunity arose to join the club, I jumped at it – and I can’t wait to get started now. The club has made a positive start to the season and I am keen to play my part in helping the boys continue to improve and push on.”

Director of rugby Declan Kidney added: “We’re pleased to welcome Facundo to the club. He arrives with a strong pedigree of performing in the Premiership for the last three years and will add to our pack.”

Irish lost tighthead Sekope Kepu on Monday due to personal reasons, the prop telling the club he had no option but to return to New Zealand. “While we are desperately disappointed, in these unprecedented times, we understand the human element of Sekope’s situation,” added Kidney. 

High-flying Irish now head to defending champions Exeter next Saturday on the back of a three-match unbeaten run, a dramatic draw at Harlequins followed by convincing home wins at Brentford over Newcastle and Gloucester. 

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Bull Shark 12 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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