When Juan Pablo Socino lined up for the national anthems ahead of his first cap for Argentina in Mendoza at the end of July, the 27-year-old could not help but reflect on the circuitous journey he’d taken to get to the top.
“Playing for the Pumas was something I’d always dreamt about and there were loads of emotions going through my head at that moment,” the powerfully-built centre said. “It all seemed a bit unreal when I thought about where I had started in rugby and where I had got to now.
“Straight after the Australia game a lot of people’s reaction was ‘where has he come from'? Friends and family and rugby people in England knew that I’d been playing at a good level for a few years now, but it was nice to get that recognition from people back home as well.”
Since leaving his home city of Buenos Aires as a teenager, Socino has played amateur rugby in Spain and Wales – at the Tonmawr club that counts Taulupe Faletau’s father, Tongan international Kuli Faletau, among its former players – and then professionally in England with Rotherham, twice, Nottingham and now Newcastle Falcons with a brief spell in France at Dax in between.
Falcon takes flight
On the back of his outstanding form for Newcastle in his maiden season in English rugby's top division – he featured in all bar one of the 22-game Premiership campaign, Socino earned a call up to the Argentina XV that took on the French Barbarians earlier this summer and has not looked back since.
A bit late but thanks to everyone for their regards and support. I'm really happy and proud to represent my country in a world cup.
— Juan Pablo Socino (@MamutSocino)
August 19, 2015
Following his debut outing against the Wallabies, a 34-9 defeat in Mendoza, Socino was named on the bench for the match against South Africa in Buenos Aires but was promoted to the starting line-up when one of his team-mates fell ill. Playing in his birthplace was a moment to cherish, he says, even though he was on the losing side again.
“Normally when the Pumas play in Buenos Aires, a lot of young kids from the local clubs go to watch the game. Seeing them there reminded me of when I used to catch the bus to the ground, get my face painted and watch my heroes play," he said.
Shortly after the final whistle, in the bowels of Vélez Sarsfield, Socino received the news he’d be playing at Rugby World Cup 2015 along with 16 other players to have represented Argentina at the World Rugby U20 Championship over the last eight years.
"To think I’ll be playing in it is just amazing because the World Cup is miles away from where it all started for me."
“It didn’t seem real to me, just two to three months ago I’d finished my first season in the Premiership,” he pointed out.
“I remember watching the World Cup on TV, staying up late to watch the games with my friends.
“To think I’ll be playing in it is just amazing because the World Cup is miles away from where it all started for me.
“But thinking about where I have come from keeps me grounded. It was so hard for me to get where I am today, I have been to so many different places, experienced lots of different cultures and played at so many different levels, it makes everything I’m achieving now all the more enjoyable.”
