Glasgow net pair of Puma tightheads, one on loan and another - Joe Marler's 'old friend' - for next season

Glasgow Warriors have bagged themselves a pair of Argentine tightheads, one on a loan deal that starts this week and another on a full-time basis from next season. 

Leicester Tigers’ Gaston Cortes, the 34-year-old who was at Bristol Bears for six seasons, has opted to make the temporary loan switch from Welford Road to Scotstoun to help the Warriors keep things ticking over on the Guinness PRO14 front. Charlie Capps, 22, has gone in the opposite direction, swopping Scotland for England for a few months.

However, Glasgow have secured something longer-term with Exeter’s Enrique Pieretto, the 25-year-old agreeing to a two-year contract for next season subject to visa and medical clearance. He first came to prominence in the UK when red carded and banned for seven weeks for stamping on England’s Joe Marler in 2016.

Warriors have always had a liking for Pumas with the likes of Gabriel Ascarate, German Araoz, Federico Aramburu, Jose Piossek, Bernardo Stortoni and Francisco Leonelli having been on the books. 

Now, Pieretto is set to arrive having only been at Scotstoun just last month when Exeter played out a thrilling Heineken Champions Cup draw with Glasgow. The tighthead joined the English Premiership side in November, having played for the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham.

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Standing at 6ft 1 and weighing 119kgs, Pieretto is incoming head coach Danny Wilson’s second new signing following the capture of Richie Gray from Top14 champions Toulouse.

Capped 24 times, the prop from Cordoba was part of Mario Ledesma’s 31-man squad for the 2019 World Cup in Japan, featuring in the Pumas’ pool stage victory over the USA in Kumagaya. This was after being involved in the Jaguares’ run to the Super Rugby final.

“Glasgow Warriors is a great club with great players and I chose to join to improve and grow as a player,” said Pieretto. “I can learn a lot from the coaches and players. It’s a good opportunity for me and I’m extremely grateful for that. 

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“I spoke to Danny and he told me about his plans for the future. I’m excited about his vision and I’m looking forward to playing for him and the other coaches. It’s a fast pitch at Scotstoun and the fans are really noisy. I enjoyed playing there last month with Exeter Chiefs.” 

Wilson added: “Enrique has 24 caps for Argentina and we have been impressed with his performances for Exeter, including the recent game against Glasgow. He’s an abrasive and aggressive scrummager and it is great news that he has decided to join us next season.”

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