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Montpellier have signed Puma Justo Piccardo on a one-year-deal. Rugby Rama report that the French Top 14 club has just completed the signing of the 23-year-old Argentine center. It comes following Argentina’s historic win over the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, Ireland. Piccardo started at inside center for the South Americans.
World Rugby’s lack of a global season has seen different coaches adjusting accordingly. In the case of Argentina, Felipe Contepomi has given different players vacations at different times. He also made use of Super Rugby Americas (SRA) which saw Justo Piccardo wearing the 12 shirt in Dublin.
First-choice center Santiago Chocobares is now on vacations. He started for Toulouse in the Top 14 Final victory over Bordeaux. Veteran Jerónimo de la Fuente has not been selected. He had a busy season for Perpignan which saw the team avoiding relegation.
Both Chcoobares and de la Fuente missed Argentina’s November Internationals in 2024. Contepomi moved outside centers Matías Orlando and Matías Moroni to fill the void at inside center against Italy, Ireland and France. He also handed Justo Piccardo his debut. Piccardo came off the bench to win his first cap against the Irish.
Piccardo returned to Argentina for SRA 2025. He earned his debut following a strong season in 2024. A second impressive campaign culminated with Contepomi preferring him to start at inside center against the British & Irish Lions on June 20, 2025.
Argentina’s match against the Lions saw the mid-fielder from the SIC club in Buenos Aires playing inside Lucio Cinti and opposite New Zealander Bundee Aki and Australian Sione Tuipulotu. Caps were not awarded for the match though this may change.
Piccardo will not be the only Puma at Montpellier. Fly half Domingo Miotti plays for the Top 14 side. El Tucumano has 5 caps for Los Pumas. Piccardo’s move to Montpellier is to be his first professional experience abroad. It comes with the possibility of an Argentine 10-12 combination: 10 Miotti, 12 Piccardo.
