Isgro Eyes England Clash After Finding Home with Harlequins and Marcus Smith
guildford, england – Rodrigo Isgro, the harlequins winger set to face England this weekend, has revealed the pivotal role Marcus Smith played in helping him settle into life in England, both on and off the pitch. Isgro’s journey from Mendoza, Argentina, to becoming a “cult hero” at the Stoop has been underpinned by the support of the England fly-half, a friendship forged through shared car journeys and a mutual appreciation for the conventional South American drink, mate.
Isgro first experienced London during a brief appearance at the Rugby X event at the O2 Arena in 2019, but adapting to daily life in Guildford proved challenging. “Marcus [Smith] is a very good friend,” Isgro explained. “He was really good when I arrived in England. He gave up a lot of time for me, and also patience and understanding. My English was not very good – I didn’t speak it. He is a really good friend, he drinks ‘mate’ with me every day.” Mate,pronounced mah-tay,is a traditional South American herbal drink favoured by Argentinian footballing icon Lionel Messi.
The pair’s on-field connection was instantly apparent. Isgro made an instant impact on his debut against bath,scoring two tries – the first set up by a perfectly weighted chip from Smith just fifteen minutes into the game. “They linked well together on the pitch,” observers noted at the time. Isgro’s performances have as earned him a contract extension, signed in January.
Reflecting on his initial struggles, Isgro admitted, “It was hard as the language is diffrent but I grew up a lot, both with my personality and in the game. It was a really good challenge and now I feel really good. I was scared before, and now I am happy that I feel cozy here.” He will now look to translate that comfort and burgeoning confidence into a strong performance against Smith and his England teammates.
