Julio Cesar Giraldo Giraldo[1][2] (born 19 August, 1995), is a Colombian professional rugby union player. Giraldo currently plays for Rugby United New York in Major League Rugby and represents Old Blue R.F.C. in the American Rugby Premiership at amateur level. He was the second Colombian to ever play rugby professionally, and the first to play in Major League Rugby.[3]

Early life

Giraldo was born in Medellin, Colombia.[4] He began playing and developed as a rugby player at the Caporos Rugby club in Monteria-Colombia.[5] He joined the club in 2011 and quickly earned a spot on the first team. He had several outstanding performances, and continued playing for his hometown club throughout 2014.

Career

Giraldo moved to the United States on February 9, 2015, at the age of 19, joining Old Blue RFC. Despite having several performances in the D2 side, he was only selected once for the first team. In the summer of 2015, he played rugby league for the New York Knights of the USARL, where he suffered his first major injury.

In September 2017, after two years in the United States, Giraldo traveled to France, where a lack of contacts forced him to join Tec Electrogaz Rugby[6] in Promotion Honneur[7] (the seventh division of France). He earned a trial at Clamart 92,[8] where he was selected for the team and played in Federal 2 until May 2018.

In 2018, Giraldo went back to the United States due to his new immigration status and rejoined his two former clubs. He did not compete consistently during the rest of 2018. In 2019, he gained a lot of first-team action. The fall season of 2019 was one of Giraldo's best seasons. Despite several injuries (pulled hamstring, bruised shoulder, clavicle fissure, bruised finger tendon) and not being recovered 100%, he managed to perform at a high level.

Major League Rugby

Giraldo was offered a one-month trial in December 2019 by coach Greg McWilliams[9] at Rugby United New York. In January, he was asked to remain with the training squad for a month. After 60 days of training and two preseason games, he was offered his first professional contract,[10][11] becoming the first Colombian player to make it to MLR[12][13] and the second player to play professionally in Colombian rugby history, as well as joining players such as Ben Foden, Mathieu Bastareaud, Dylan Fawsitt, Cathal Marsh, Nate Brakeley, Connor Wallace-Sims, and Paddy Ryan.

Giraldo made his professional rugby debut for Rugby United New York on February 9, 2020, in the first week of the MLR against the New England Free Jacks at Sam Boyd stadium in Las Vegas.[14][15] He came in from the bench in the first half, replacing an injured Trevor Cassidy.[16] He played 43 minutes, attempting eight tackles with a 100% finishing rate, and also got two turnovers.

National team

Giraldo represented the "Los Tucanes" Colombia under-18 side from 2011-2013, gaining several caps, including a match against Brazil where he scored a try.[17] He was also, at the time, the first and only player from a club from the Caribbean coast to make it to the squad. He was selected for Los Tucanes, the Colombian national under-18 side, where he played from 2011 to 2013.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Julio Cesar Giraldo". Rugby United NY. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  2. ↑ "pro direct rugby julio cesar giraldo - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  3. ↑ "Colombian flanker Julio Giraldo set to make MLR history". Americas Rugby News. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  4. ↑ "El emperador Julio César llega a EE. UU.", El Colombiano, February 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ "El colombiano Giraldo jugará en la liga de Estados Unidos", ESPN Deportes, February 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Rugby news". Tec-rugby.
  7. ↑ "Actualités rugby Promotion Honneur - Championnat Territorial 2019/2020 - Compétitions FFR". Compétitions - FFR (in French). 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  8. ↑ "Club de Rugby Clamart 92-sport enfant école de rugby-Ile de France-Paris". Clamart Rugby 92 Ecole de Rugby - Club de rugby du 92, Ile de France (in French). Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  9. ↑ "Rugby United New York Announces Head Coach". Rugby United NY. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  10. ↑ "Rugby United New York Adds Julio Cesar Giraldo". djcoilrugby. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  11. ↑ "RUNY Signs Julio Cesar Giraldo from Practice Squad".
  12. ↑ "2020 un año frenético para el rugby colombiano", El Nuevo Siglo, February 9, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Colombian flanker Julio Giraldo set to make MLR history". Americas Rugby News. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  14. ↑ "MLR Preview – New England Free Jacks vs Rugby United New York". Americas Rugby News. 2020-02-08. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  15. ↑ "Free Jacks stun RUNY in Las Vegas". Americas Rugby News. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  16. ↑ "Trevor Cassidy". Rugby United NY. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  17. ↑ "RESPETO: JULIO CÉSAR GIRALDO, UN SUEÑO A MEDIAS EN EL RUGBY PROFESIONAL DE ESTADOS UNIDOS", ColombiaSports.net, Andres Castro, March 21, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Jugador cordobés en la selección de Rugby de Colombia". www.eluniversal.com.co (in European Spanish). 2011-08-03. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
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