Juan Ignacio Brex and the fresh air of Italy: meeting the new RCT center

In his native land, the smiling Juan Ignacio Brex might have ended up as an engineer or architect, like his brothers. Yet, in his own words, it was the role of the "black sheep" of the family that he decided to take on, by attempting to embrace a career in rugby.

The third child of an engineer father and a lawyer mother, "Nacho" was born near Buenos Aires on May 26, 1992, with a rugby ball in his hands. Father, brother, uncle, and cousins had tried their hand at rugby before him. And, logically, the tradition would continue with little Juan Ignacio. "I started when I was 4 years old, at San Cirano ," rewinds the short-haired lad. "It's the club of my life, of my heart."

In the football country of Argentina, the youngster opted for a helmet, camphor, and straps: "As a child, I played soccer and rugby. But when the matches started being played on Saturdays, you had to choose..." Brought up as a fullback, then moved to center at 17, his role models at the time were Jason Robinson, Felipe Contepomi, and Ma'a Nonu. A sign of destiny, the last two would wear the RCT colors some time later, while "Nacho" was still a long way from the most beautiful harbor in Europe.

24 years old… and still in his little childhood club

Although the three-quarter has already played for Argentina's U20, Sevens and B national teams, at 24 years old, he has still not made it to the top level. "It was very difficult to play Sevens, but it helped me a lot with my individual work, while also giving me more experience."

He then took the gamble of joining a modest Italian first division team: Viadana. It was Ulises Gamboa, a former San Cirano player, who brought him back to Lombardy. "As we say back home, the train only comes once. I told myself that I might not have this opportunity again, especially since I dreamed of going to Europe."

Injuries, Masi and evolution

It would take the Argentinian eighteen months to make his mark and attract the attention of the country's biggest team, Benetton Treviso.

"I was a different player back then ," admits the RCT recruit. "I was a ball carrier. I played more one-on-one, trying to find gaps for myself." Wrist injuries – and the resulting difficulty in passing when he resumed training – as well as the encounter with Andrea Masi (see opposite) nevertheless pushed him to develop his individual technique. To the point of becoming more of "a facilitator, who tries to find spaces for his teammates ." As he approaches his thirties, this development appeals to the Italian team. "I had the passport thanks to my grandparents, who were Sicilian, and I had already spent several years in Italy. When Franco Smith (the former coach of La Nazionale, Editor's note) called me, I had no doubts. It had been my ambition since I arrived. I just had to play with the Sevens team during the Olympic qualifying tournament (in 2019) ."

Soon to be French-speaking?

Today, at 33, Juan Ignacio Brex (1.89m; 98kg) has 46 caps and three captaincies with his adopted national team. He believes he has fully embraced his Italian side: "My two children were born in Treviso. When my son started school, to help him, my wife, also Argentinian, and I only spoke Italian at home."

And now that the little family has settled in the Var (for at least two years), they will have to immerse themselves in the local culture. The new Toulon native is giving himself four months to speak decent French. With all the motivation of a player who reached the very highest level late in life, through perseverance.

Stronger than ever, despite his 33 years. This is the paradox of this Italian-Argentine center who assures that he "feels like he's still very young." There are worse things, like "black sheep."