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Andrés Vilaseca’s time at Vannes is winding down. After two seasons, the Uruguayan will depart the French Pro D2 club. Vilaseca’s playing future is undetermined. The now 32-year-old arrived in France from Peñarol.
Vannes lead the Pro D2. The club is on target for a first-ever promotion to the Top 14. With three rounds remaining, Vannes leads by a single point over Provence. Former Top 14 clubs Béziers, Grenoble, Dax and Mont de Marsan round out the play-off’s zone as it presently stands.
Vilaseca featured in Friday’s win over Montauban. The Uruguayan captain made his return from injury to play inside center. Uruguayan hooker Germán Kessler started for Montauban. Vilaseca was joined by two Argentine flankers – Juan Bautista Pedemonte and club captain and Pumas Francisco Gorrissen.
Vilaseca took over of the Uruguayan captaincy from RWC 2019 captain Juan Manuel Gaminara in 2020. Gaminara had been captain of Uruguay for four years following RWC 2015. Andrés Vilaseca is the younger brother of Santiago Vilaseca, the player who led Uruguay at RWC 2015.
The younger of the brothers also played at RWC 2015. He played in all four of Uruguay’s matches in England and Wales and also featured in all four games in Japan 2019. He has been a mainstay in the team for a sustained period dating back to 2003.
Under Andrés Vilaseca, Uruguay had their most competitive Rugby World Cup campaign. The 2023 return was a win over Namibia in Lyon; however, there were notable positives in the performances against France and Italy.
The Teros skipper has 79 test caps. He is the fourth most capped Uruguayan in history behind Diego Magno (105), Gastón Mieres (84) and Mateo Sanguinetti (84).
Andrés Vilaseca is a three time Nations Cup champion. Outside of the international arena, Vilaseca has played professional rugby in both North America and South America. He featured in Major League Rugby for Austin and captained Peñarol to the SLAR title in 2022.
