Hounds Sign Young Prop with World Cup Experience
December 4, 2023 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Chicago Hounds News Release
CHICAGO, I.L. - The Chicago Hounds continued to add to their new and improved forward pack for the 2024 Major League Rugby campaign. The most recent addition is Uruguayan prop Ignacio Peculo, who recently played for Los Teros in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Peculo brings 15 test caps to the Hounds' forward group, and at just 24 years old, the up-and-coming prospect has the potential to become a premier name across MLR. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound tighthead prop makes the move to Chicago after spending the previous three seasons with Penarol in the Super Liga Americana.
During Peculo's 2023 campaign with Penarol, he appeared in 12 games with nine starts. He played a total of 580 minutes and finished the year with five points on one scored try. The prop made three appearances for Los Teros during the 2023 World Cup. Peculo beat one defender and completed 10 tackles during the quadrennial tournament.
Prior to Peculo's test-match experience, the prop regularly featured for the Uruguay Under-20 team. He made seven appearances for the team between 2018 and 2019. His strong performances with the U-20 squad garnered senior team interest and Peculo earned selection to the Uruguay XV, Los Teros' developmental squad, in 2020. He continued to impress in his three appearances for the developmental team and earned a call-up to Los Teros. Later that year, Peculo made his international test debut against Spain.
Peculo joins a prop group that includes a pair of returning players in Mika Felix and Paddy Ryan in addition to newcomer Zurabi Zhvania.
Roster to Date:
To date, the Chicago Hounds have signed the following players for the 2024 Major League Rugby season:
Nick McCarthy, scrumhalf
Ben Landry, lock/flanker
Dave Kearney, wing
Bryce Campbell, center*
Zurabi Zhvania, prop
Billy Meakes, center*
Julian Dominguez, wing*
George Merrick, lock
Tinashe Muchena, back row*
Adriaan Carelse, fullback
Mika Felix, prop*
Jason Higgins, scrumhalf (via trade with San Diego)
Justice Nkombua, flanker*
Paddy Ryan, prop*
Mark O'Keeffe, center*
Janus Venter, hooker
Mike Matarazzo*
Ignacio Peculo
Star denotes a re-signed player.
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