Newcastle Falcons have today announced the signing of Argentine scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz on a two-year deal, a capture that injects fresh energy into the squad ahead of the new rugby campaign. The 25-year-old, presently with the Pumas squad preparing for the Rugby Championship, will head straight to Kingston Park to link up with compatriot Eduardo Bello, who already wears Falcons colours.
For the Falcons, this new arrival is a measured move in the ongoing squad rebuild that followed a tough Premiership campaign. For Cruz, it signals the opening of a fresh chapter in which he aims to sharpen his craft whilst playing a central role in the club’s upward drive.
An Emerging Force in Argentinian Rugby
Grown up in Argentina, Simón Benítez Cruz has earned his stripes for being electric at the base, applying smart curls of kick or pass, and taking on defenders without flinching. His name on the Pumas Rugby Championship sheet speaks volumes, while his international bow against the British & Irish Lions still rings in the memory—he capped the outing with a try that sealed a famous win.
After his first cap, he shone during Argentina’s summer series versus England, reinforcing the promise he showed on his debut. With his sharp game-reading ability and knack for exposing defensive weaknesses, Cruz presents a creative edge that aligns seamlessly with Newcastle’s newly refined vision.
A Club with a Strong Argentine Connection
Reflecting on the transfer, Cruz spoke with heartfelt gratitude and anticipation.
“I’m so proud to join Newcastle, a club with such a long love affair with Argentine players,” he told the Falcons’ media team. “I feel it’s the ideal club for my game, and I’m eager to pull on the Falcons jersey and run out for the wonderful supporters.”
Over the years, Newcastle Falcons have become known for nurturing Argentine talent, blending it into a squad that remains diverse yet cohesive. That bond has allowed South American players to flourish amid the intensity of the Premiership and has enriched the club’s culture. Cruz’s signing carries that tradition forward, and already the Falcons’ faithful are counting the days until they see him carve out space on the pitch.
Praise from the Top
Newcastle Falcons’ director of rugby, Steve Diamond, did not hold back in his enthusiasm for the announcement of his latest playmaker: “His debut Test outings for Argentina have been eye-catching—his footwork and pace alone create problems, and we feel he can refine those weapons and really excite us week in, week out.”
Diamond’s words land with a sense of the concrete and the possible. Signing Cruz is pitched not as stopgap relief in the backline, but as a clear long-game investment, a call to arms that spells out the club’s appetite to grow a homegrown spine even as they reach for Premiership priority points.
Building for the Future
Failure to escape the Premiership basement last term cut deeply. The squad felt the weight, the fans bore the chill, and Kingston Park echoed with unanswered questions. Yet optimism is now louder than the disappointment, and for good reason.
Two weeks from completion, the proposed entry of Red Bull as majority owner brings not only weighty balance sheets but a playbook rewritten for sustainable growth and global reach. The imminent capital infusion is matched, so the club believes, by a strategic overview that looks beyond immediate survival to European ambition.
The arrival of Cruz, alongside several other emerging talents, signals a clear next step. The Falcons’ recruitment team has sharpened its lenses, hunting for players whose ceilings match the club’s own. The goal is clear: to blend youthful invention with seasoned resolve and to push from the bottom of the table back to the conversation the club intends to own, louder and for longer.
What Cruz Brings to Newcastle Falcons
Tactically, Cruz will give the Falcons several key advantages:
- Optimised speed and agility at the scrum-half position, enabling quick ball transfer and rapid-fire attacking phases.
- Shrewd decision-making under pressure, allowing him to dictate the match’s pace and flow.
- Extensive international experience against leading Test sides, injecting added composure and professionalism to his performances.
- Natural versatility, enabling seamless adaptation to changing match conditions, which is crucial in tight contests.
- The established partnership with fellow Argentine Eduardo Bello offers immediate synergy, aiding Cruz’s integration and smoothing on-field communication.
Looking Ahead
The coming weeks will define Cruz’s transition, as he completes Rugby Championship obligations with Argentina before shifting focus to the Premiership. Kingston Park crowds will be eager to see him make a decisive early impact when he dons the black jersey for the first time.
Even during this rebuilding stretch, the Falcons’ decision to bring in Simón Benítez Cruz strikes me as a clear message to the fans: the club is determined to lift the scoreboard and deliver a faster, more thrilling brand of rugby. Couple that with the rumoured Red Bull investment, and it starts to feel like the club is quietly warming up to a remarkably energetic chapter in its history.
Right now, the spotlight shifts squarely to Cruz—the Argentine nine who has already gone toe-to-toe with rugby’s sharpest operators on the global stage. If the first few seasons of his career are any guide, Falcons fans may not have to wait long before the stands are alive with fresh, passionate celebration.