The Challenge of Filling the Champion’s Shoes: Newman’s New Guard

Newman goes through that bittersweet process that only those who reach the top know: the day after glory. The premiere of the URBA title found the Cardinal with a present of celebration, but also of metamorphosis. With two victories at the start, the defending champion walks on a terrain of transition, marked by an exodus of leaders and retirements that force an immediate renewal in positions that, until months ago, had undisputed owners.

The replacement is not minor. Names that forged the team’s identity in the last decade, such as Marcelo Brandi, Mariano Urtubey, Miguel Urtubey, Félix Branca and Mateo Delia, hung up their boots. Added to them are the temporary absences for the Super Rugby Americas: Lucas Marguery, Faustino Santarelli and Jerónimo Ulloa (Pampas), along with Santiago Marolda (Peñarol), who will only appear for Benavídez in the second half of the year.

In this puzzle of casualties, the gap left by Marcelo Brandi between the two pillars is, perhaps, one of the most difficult to conceal. However, Beltran Salese He raised his hand to accept the challenge. At 24 years old, the hooker is not an improvised player: he has the experience of the selected M18 and M20 teams, and the professional experience that Jaguares XV gave him in 2021.

Aware of the shadow cast by his predecessor, Salese faces ownership with respect but with determination. “Chelo Brandi left a great legacy, but with the boys we are eager to take the position and continue improving”admits Beltrán, who took advantage of each training session to absorb concepts from the historic first line: “I learned a lot from him on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays”.

After scoring a try in the victory against Belgrano, the hooker knows that the confidence of the technical staff is his greatest support to take over the number 2 number. “Now he’s gone and it’s time to take the baton, happy about that. The coaches give us confidence and we also know that we are prepared, so trusting in what we know how to do”sentence.

A few meters further back in the formation, the responsibility falls on Lucas Nava. With the departure of Lucas Marguery to the UAR franchise, the scrum half position became vacant. While Alejandro Urtubey inherited the captain’s ribbon, Nava, at 23 years old, received the team’s strings.

For the young nine, replacing a reference like Marguery is a challenge that he takes on with admiration. “We have a very good relationship, every time I had to replace him last year he encouraged me a lot. He gave me a lot of confidence to carry the team on my shoulder and start building this start, for me replacing him is an honor, he is a star”Nava confesses.

Leading Benavídez’s first team is, for him, the culmination of a lifelong desire: “Being Newman’s nine of the first is crazy. It’s a dream, the truth is that I’ve always dreamed of it since I was little. It’s a very big responsibility and honor, so you have to carry it in a good way and with a lot of attitude.”.

With his sights set on what is to come, Nava is clear about his goal for 2026: to consolidate himself as the driving force of the champion. “I want to have more confidence in myself and try to make the team play. The truth is that we have a hell of a team, very good players, so I think as a scrum half I can be a link between the forwards and the backs, try to make the team play and start creating a good game that I think we can do.”.

Newman changed the faces, but the ambition seems intact. Salese and Nava are the reflection of a club that, far from resting on its laurels, is betting on its youth team to maintain the sacred fire of the champion.