Andrés Vilaseca
Meet the inspirational centre aiming to lead Uruguay to the 2023 World Cup
LEADERS COME in many shapes and forms. Some are vocal, talkative, and use that skill to motivate. Others, such as Uruguay captain Andrés Vilaseca, will do as little talking as they can but will be followed into the toughest of battles by their team-mates.
“The first thing that comes to mind is how prepared he is for the role, how seriously he focuses on it,” says his former Uruguay team-mate Alejandro Nieto, two years his senior.
“He is an incredible captain that lives for the team and the captaincy at every training,” says Felipe Arcos Pérez, 21, of the new generation of Teros.
“When we were needing a new captain, he ticked every box,” adds Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses.
When the three were asked for a funny story involving Vilaseca, the scratching of heads was audible from a distance. “That is a tough one,” says the coach. “Can I come back to you?” asks Nieto. The youngster takes some time before telling RugbyWorld: “He is an awful PlayStation player. We play FIFA in camp and he plays with (two-time World Cup veteran) ‘Dibu’ Silva and they always lose. He is really bad. We humiliate them a bit and they don’t like it!”
Nicknamed Fatiga (Fatigue) – a moniker given to him by a friend’s father as he was always tired and late as a teenager – his attitude changed as he matured into a very efficient international centre, sharing the Uruguayan journey with his older brother Santiago, who led their country to RWC 2015. The younger Vilaseca should be leading Uruguay to France in two years’ time.
“He is extremely responsible and an incredible leader, leading by example and in the process of learning how to be vocal,” says Meneses. “He is a huge fan of what it means to play for Uruguay.
“We are widening our base of players and he shows the younger generation that positive conduct will take you far; the kids take a look at that and learn.”
Having injured a shoulder a year out from what would be his first Rugby World Cup, Vilaseca made the plane bound for London in 2015 through work-rate and sheer desire. Also injured at the time, and on the comeback trail, was Nieto, who says: “His resilience was incredible. It pushed all of us.”
Vilaseca is known for forming tight bonds within the Uruguay squad and Nieto says: “I’ve been in leadership meetings in which he knew a lot about each and every one in the squad. He is very present, finds out, listens, is warm.”
Arcos Pérez adds: “I was very nervous when I first came into the squad but he and the older heads made us feel very comfortable from the first day.
“I come from the same club (as Vilaseca) and he used to do some coaching when we were in the U19s. Having someone of his stature was huge for us. I also shared his position so I was constantly looking out for him.
“He likes getting to know us, to know what we do, what we need. For a young player coming into a professional environment, it is very important to see that kind of approach.”
Vilaseca has been a leader for quite some time but is a new captain and missed a year of key experience due to the pandemic. Instead, he was able to develop his skills in that role in the Superliga Americana de Rugby.
“We decided to name him captain of the Peñarol franchise. And he got better, more vocal, more charismatic. It is a building process,” explains Meneses, with whom Vilaseca is plotting to qualify for RWC 2023 by beating USA in the Americas One play-off this month.
“His profile is that of someone who will transmit calmness and confidence. He is always ready to work and, at 30, is probably in his best shape.”
“IT WAS a bit of a culture shock retiring from playing in 2007, but as I played in the amateur era I’d worked and played rugby at the same time. My last job as a player was credit manager for Oddbins. When you retire from professional rugby, though, no one gives you a manual; it’s a question of finding your feet and using your connections.
“I have always been in the sales environment, in and out of property, and F3GROUP were looking for a chief commercial officer. My CEO, Gavin
Gleave, was a board member at Gloucester and I have been here for two-and-a-half years. Justin Bishop (former Ireland wing) is here too.
“We have two businesses in F3GROUP: a professional services business for development and management, and a software platform fu3e, which is commercialising now as an adaptive management and reporting tool.
“If you’re a half-decent pro sportsman there are a lot of people willing to offer time, advice and guidance.”
Age 48 Position Centr e Teams L ondon Irish, Wasps, Munster, Toulon, Ir eland & Lions