Tomás Lavanini

Born in Argentina on 22 January 1993, Tomás Lavanini has built a reputation as one of the more combative and physically imposing forwards in the southern hemisphere game. The Argentine flanker brings a relentless work ethic to every contest, combining hard-edged defence with an ability to impose himself at the breakdown and in the tight exchanges that define forward play at the elite level. Lavanini now plies his trade with the Highlanders in New Zealand's Super Rugby competition, adding international experience and proven physicality to the Dunedin-based franchise's forward pack. His Argentine background has shaped a playing style defined by intensity and direct confrontation, qualities that have served Los Pumas well across multiple Rugby World Cup campaigns and formed the foundation of a lengthy professional career spanning clubs across multiple continents. At flanker, Lavanini is the type of player coaches prize for the unglamorous but essential work that shapes the outcome of forward battles — carrying hard into contact, winning collisions over the ball, and bringing consistent pressure that lifts the collective effort around him. His experience in competitive northern and southern hemisphere environments gives him a well-rounded understanding of the game across its various tactical demands. At the Highlanders, he slots into a forward group that values aggression and cohesion in equal measure, with Lavanini's appetite for confrontation making him a natural fit in a competition that rewards physicality and defensive resilience. Few players in the Argentine forward tradition wear their national rugby culture more visibly on the field.