Warren Gatland has tasted silverware once again – but this time, far from the pressure cooker of Six Nations rugby.
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The former Wales boss played a key role behind the scenes as Uruguayan outfit Peñarol clinched their third Super Rugby Americas crown with a nail-biting 35–34 victory over Argentina’s Dogos XV in a blockbuster final at Montevideo’s Estadio Charrúa.
Gatland, who joined Peñarol on a short-term consultancy deal last month following his abrupt Wales exit during the Six Nations, would have been watching on with his heart in his mouth as his new side just about held their nerve to get over the line.
DOMINANCE TURNED DRAMA
It all looked smooth sailing early on. With their forwards firing and backs finishing clinically, Peñarol steamrolled to a 21–8 lead in the first half. Uruguay wing Bautista Basso lit up the final with a dazzling brace inside 20 minutes, while back-row Santiago Civetta bulldozed over to stretch the advantage.
Dogos XV were all over the shop – misfiring at set-piece, coughing up ball, and lacking composure. Their only real reply came from the boot of Juan Baronio, until they finally dotted down just before the break to keep it interesting.
Peñarol came flying out of the sheds in the second half and looked to have the trophy in the bag. Two more tries and some sharp shooting from Felipe Etcheverry pushed the score out to 35–8.
DOGOS COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
But this final had one last twist in it.
Dogos weren’t done. Far from it. Turning the screw at scrum time and finding their offloading groove, the Argentines launched a ferocious comeback. Agustín Moyano started the charge, before Ignacio Gandin, Juan Greising Revol, and Fabricio Griffo Zaradnik followed suit with tries that set up a grandstand finish.
With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Peñarol clung on for dear life.
In the end, they did just enough – by the skin of their teeth.
GATLAND BACK IN BUSINESS?
For Gatland, it’s a triumphant start to life in Uruguay and a welcome change of pace after his troubled return to the Wales job came to a premature end earlier this year.
His stint with Peñarol may have been brief, but it already looks like a masterstroke. There are whispers that the Kiwi’s involvement could now extend deeper into Uruguayan rugby beyond the club level.
As for Peñarol, the 2025 title cements their growing reputation as South America’s standard-setters, continuing a dominant run in the competition since its inception.
One thing’s for sure – Gatland’s South American adventure has started with fireworks.
EDITORS PICKS:
2/10: 5 Big-Name Underperformers from the Premiership Final
Bath finally broke their 29-year title drought with a nervy 23-21 win over Leicester Tigers, wrapping up a historic 2024/25 treble. But while the blue, black, and white were partying, some big names had a day to forget...
Honourable Mention: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
? Farewell in a fog
A brief cameo turned sour as the veteran prop bowed out of professional rugby with a controversial yellow card for a late hit on Finn Russell. Rugby Pass called it "a tragic way to finish his career."
Rating: 2/10
A brief cameo turned sour as the veteran prop bowed out of professional rugby with a controversial yellow card for a late hit on Finn Russell. Rugby Pass called it "a tragic way to finish his career."
Rating: 2/10
#1. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
? Big Joe's big slip-up
He found himself in good positions but couldn’t make them count. Handling errors crept in, undermining his usual wrecking-ball threat.
"Unusually mistake-filled… unable to hold the ball," noted RUCK.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby), 6/10 (RUCK)
He found himself in good positions but couldn’t make them count. Handling errors crept in, undermining his usual wrecking-ball threat.
"Unusually mistake-filled… unable to hold the ball," noted RUCK.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby), 6/10 (RUCK)
#2. Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers)
? Nowhere to run
Radwan had flashes of pace, but spent much of the match marooned in heavy traffic. His defensive work didn’t help either.
"Bath dominated in the air and Radwan also missed quite a few tackles," Planet Rugby observed.
Rating: 5/10
Radwan had flashes of pace, but spent much of the match marooned in heavy traffic. His defensive work didn’t help either.
"Bath dominated in the air and Radwan also missed quite a few tackles," Planet Rugby observed.
Rating: 5/10
#3. Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
? The pass that broke the Tigers
Started brightly, directing play with authority, but his second-half unravelled. A stray pass to Russell led to a decisive Bath try, and he missed a crucial kick at goal.
"Blew white hot and ice cold," summed up Planet Rugby.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby & Rugby Pass)
Started brightly, directing play with authority, but his second-half unravelled. A stray pass to Russell led to a decisive Bath try, and he missed a crucial kick at goal.
"Blew white hot and ice cold," summed up Planet Rugby.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby & Rugby Pass)
#4. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
? Grounded under pressure
The safest hands in England were tested—and cracked. Bath’s tactical kicking drew him out of position, and a few spilled catches followed.
"Not his imperious best under the high ball," said Rugby Pass.
Rating: 4/10
The safest hands in England were tested—and cracked. Bath’s tactical kicking drew him out of position, and a few spilled catches followed.
"Not his imperious best under the high ball," said Rugby Pass.
Rating: 4/10
#5. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)
? Breakdown? Break-gone.
Normally a menace at the ruck, Reffell struggled to assert himself and racked up penalties instead. Bath kept him largely out of the contest.
"Found himself on the wrong side of Dickson’s whistle… not Leicester’s afternoon at the breakdown."
Normally a menace at the ruck, Reffell struggled to assert himself and racked up penalties instead. Bath kept him largely out of the contest.
"Found himself on the wrong side of Dickson’s whistle… not Leicester’s afternoon at the breakdown."
Quiz! Can you name every club that has played in the Premiership?
London Welsh were the last new team to play in the Gallagher Premiership back in 2011 – can you name the others?
You have five minutes to name every club to have played in the Gallagher Premiership, all 28 of them, since the division was established back in 1987.
Good luck, and let us know how you do
