Western Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific franchise, the Western Force are adding a third Argentine for the upcoming season. Hooker Leonel Oviedo is being recruited from Argentina to join Pumas second-rower Franco Molina and Pumas scrum-half Agustin Moyano for the 2026 season.
Unlike Molina and Moyano, Oviedo is uncapped. Oviedo is nonetheless firmly on the radar and featured for the Argentina XV in 2025. He also trained with Los Pumas under Contepomi in 2024.
The 27-year-old Oveido is the older brother of Pumas N8 Joaquín Oviedo. They come from Córdoba, the city in which Los Dogos is based. The Western Force has recruited Moyano and Oviedo who both competed for Los Dogos in SRA 2025. Molina is a former Dogos captain but joins the Western Force from the Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. He will return to England to join the Newcastle Red Bulls later on in 2026.
Oviedo had a busy SRA 2025 season for Los Dogos. He featured in the final against champions Peñarol and scored seven tries in sixteen appearances. The Western Force will not be Leonel Oviedo’s first experience outside of Argentina. He has previously played in Uruguay for Peñarol and in France for Céret (Federale 1), Carqueiranne-Hyères (Nationale) and Provence Rugby (Pro D2).
