Francisco Moreno is reported to be joining Newcastle Red Bulls after Argentina’s two home matches against Australia in Jujuy and Mendoza. The tight-head prop would continue his career in the English Premiership, according to reports from Tucumán.
The move would add Moreno to a Newcastle group that already includes three other Pumas: Franco Molina, Simón Benítez Cruz and Benjamín Elizalde. That would make four Argentina internationals in the Newcastle Red Bulls squad for next season.
Francisco Moreno and Newcastle Red Bulls
Moreno is set to make the step from Super Rugby Americas to the Premiership after the Australia fixtures. He played for Los Tarucas last season and is currently training with Los Pumas for Argentina’s final two home matches of the year.
The timing matters. Moreno is still involved with the national set-up, so his reported move to Newcastle would come only once those Wallabies matches are complete.
For supporters following the club’s changing identity, this is another notable development alongside the Red Bull agreement with Newcastle.
The four Pumas in the Newcastle squad
| Player | Reported Newcastle squad status |
|---|---|
| Francisco Moreno | Reported new recruit |
| Franco Molina | One of the four Pumas |
| Simón Benítez Cruz | One of the four Pumas |
| Benjamín Elizalde | One of the four Pumas |
Moreno would be the fourth Puma in that group. It gives the reported recruitment a clear Argentina connection rather than making it an isolated overseas signing.
What Moreno brings
Moreno is a tight-head prop listed at 1.85m and 147kg. His Argentina debut came against South Africa, where he won a penalty at the first scrum.
That early scrum moment is the clearest on-field marker in the report. Tight-head is a specialist front-row role, with the player packing on the right side of the scrum and facing the opposing loose-head prop. Newcastle would be bringing in a player whose first international action included an immediate impact in that contest.
What happens next
The reported plan is straightforward: Moreno remains with Argentina through the home series against Australia, then moves to Newcastle. Nothing in this story needs dressing up. The central point is that Newcastle Red Bulls are reported to have recruited a young Pumas tight-head as their Argentine contingent grows.
