TREVISO – Il Benetton Rugby confirms the engagement of Lautaro Bazan Velez. The 28-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder has signed a contract that will tie him to the green and white franchise from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 with the option for the following sports season.
Bazan Velez is Benetton Rugby’s fifth signing of the 2024/2025 transfer campaign. This is a scrum-half in the midst of developing his career. He has a strong speed, an excellent foot game and constant precision when passing: Pumas will guarantee a precious additional resource between the midfielders.
The scrum half was born in Cordoba, Argentina on 24 February 1996. Standing 173cm tall and weighing 80kg, Bazan Velez showed off for Cordoba Atletico in the 2014/2015 season at the Nacional de Clubes competition. He specializes in rugby 7s, playing in the under 20 world championship with Pumitas in 2014 and 2015. He juggles in several competitions with the Argentina Seven and with it he wins an Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020, teaming with the Lion Kiki Mendy. Bazan Velez is a scrum half who quickly attacks the defensive line and dictates the tempo of the team. In parallel with the Seven, he was also often called up to the Argentina XV, then accumulated appearances with the Buenos Aires Jaguares, without missing his commitment to the hometown club Cordoba Athletic. Bazan Velez also gets noticed overseas and in 2022 he accepts the offer: he moves to Europe, precisely to Italy to Rovigo Rugby. Dispute two years with the Bersaglieri, totaling 22 appearances and 4 goals overall. Last year, in 2023 he was a fundamental protagonist in the formation of the Bersaglieri who won the Scudetto.
Former Pumitas, in 2021 he begins to join the Argentine national team. He gains trust and different space, imposing himself with the Pumas shirt and showing his technical and physical qualities in many international showcases. He had his most evocative experience at the 2023 World Cup, together with his new green and white teammate Thomas Gallo, collecting six appearances in the world championship which saw Argentina finish in fourth place. With Argentina he has totaled 14 caps. An appearance with the historic representative of the Barbarians also sealed his path.
Lautaro, together with the Lions Albornoz, Bernasconi, Gallo and Mendy, has just been called up by the Argentina national team for the Rugby Championship and will arrive in Treviso in the next few months at the end of his commitments with the Pumas.
“When I learned that Benetton Rugby was interested in me I felt immense joy and at the same time a great desire to start this new adventure soon. The club, its history and what it represents for the city pushed me to accept; furthermore, the extraordinary players in the squad will allow me to grow as a player and as a person. I can’t wait to start working to earn a place on the pitch and make myself useful to the team.” he has declared Lautaro Bazan Velezreinforcement of the Lions for next season.
“With satisfaction we announce the purchase of Bazan Velez: a talented and experienced scrum half who will strengthen the department after the departures of Duvenage and Hidalgo-Clyne. We believe that Lautaro has the right qualities for the level we compete at; we are confident that his arrival will bring added value to the team and that he will help us continue the growth path that the group has proven to continue with satisfactory results even in the season just ended” explains the general manager Antonio Pavanello.
