Argentina internationals heading to Harlequins

Adam Kyriacou

Harlequins have announced that Argentina internationals Martin Landajo and Santiago Garcia Botta will join the Premiership club for the 2019/20 season. 

Scrum-half Landajo is one of his country’s most capped internationals with 84 appearances and was part of the Argentina squad which reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, will complement Danny Care’s skill-set and provide another level of leadership across the squad.

Landajo will team up with Paul Gustard’s outfit from the Jaguares following the World Cup in Japan, if selected for the Argentina national squad, and will look to make his debut for the London club at The Stoop from November 2019.

“I cannot wait to get started with Harlequins,” said Landajo. “I have always admired the club’s history and place in the English game and, under Paul Gustard, I can see they have become even stronger and are now in a great place to win trophies.”

Gustard, Harlequins’ head of rugby, added: “Martin will be a wonderful addition to the squad and add greater density to our leadership group. They call him The Door Opener – and for good reason. His pace and creativity has been able to unlock defences at the highest level and we look forward to welcoming him at The Stoop later this year.

“He is a very impressive man who is driven to push on, test himself in a different environment and leave his own personal legacy in the game. We are delighted he is committing his future with us and we look forward to welcoming Martin and his young family to Quins.”

Meanwhile, front-rower Botta, who has 33 international caps, will also join the club after the World Cup in Japan, if selected, later this year.

The 26-year-old, who currently plays for Jaguares and was part of the Argentina squad that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2015, said he was setting his sights on helping Harlequins win trophies in their new era under Gustard.

He said: “It is brilliant to be joining a club with the drive and ambition that Paul Gustard and his team have at Harlequins. I know I am joining a club with a fantastic heritage and one that is moving in the right direction and with its sights set on winning silverware.”

Gustard added: “We are delighted to welcome Santi to Harlequins and know he will fit in brilliantly to the winning environment we have created at the club.

“He is a powerful prop who has had an excellent career in Argentina to date and now we look forward to seeing him help us build on the progression we have made this season.

“He is a young man who has already played a lot of Super Rugby and international rugby and will add a significant high level of experience to our squad. He is mobile, aggressive and caught the eye of Bomb (Adam Jones) with his powerful scrummaging.

“He is joining us as he enters the prime of his career and I know everyone at Quins will welcome him and his girlfriend Maria to the club as he looks to test himself in different competitions and develop his game further.”