Benetton have announced the signing of Patagonian prop, Gonzalo Hughes. The Italian club has signed the 27-year-old on a two year deal from July 01, 2026 to June 30, 2028. It marks a return to Italy for the Argentine prop but a first time playing for an elite team.
Hughes previously played din Italy in 2022-2024 for Petrarca. He moved from there to French club Périgueux Dordogne in 2024 and will join Benetton to compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC) for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons.
The arrival of Hughes coincides with the departure of countryman, Thomas Gallo who has signed for Lyon in the Top 14. Both players went through Argentina’s High Performance system prior to becoming professional players; however, unlike Gallo, Hughes is uncapped.
Hughes comes from Trelew, Argentina. He is a product of Patoruzu Rugby Club in Chubut, Patagonia. He played for Jockey Club in Córdoba from 2016-2019 and was a Pumita in the 2018 World Rugby u20 Championship. He moved to Buenos Aires in 2020 to play for SIC.
Then, in 2022 he moved to Europe to play for Petrarca for two years. While playing for the Italian side he played at both loose head and tight head prop. He has the size to match this adaptability as he is 1.85m tall and weighs 122 kg.