The Team Behind Rugby Lab

COACHING STAFF

International players and coaches who have competed at the highest levels of the game — bringing real elite experience, professional habits, and world-class methods directly to your club.

Gabriel Ascarate — Director of Sports Performance
GABRIEL ASCARATE
Director of Sports Performance
Cascais Rugby · Rugby Lab

Director · Sports Performance

GABRIEL
ASCARATE

The best coaches don't just teach rugby. They build the athlete first.

Gabriel Ascarate is a former professional rugby player who represented Los Pumas (Argentina) in 19 international Tests, debuting in 2007. A centre forged through one of South America's most competitive rugby pathways, he played across Argentina, France, Scotland, and Portugal — competing in the Vodacom Cup, Top 14, Pro12, and Super Rugby environments before transitioning into coaching.

As Director of Sports Performance at Rugby Lab and coach at Cascais Rugby, Gabriel channels everything learned at the elite level — the training standards, competitive habits, and playing knowledge of international rugby — into programs that create real, lasting improvement at club level.

Position
Centre
International Caps
19 — Los Pumas (Argentina)
Test Debut
2007 vs Chile · Los Pumas
Sevens
Pumas 7s · 5 IRB Series Apps
NOW
Director of Sports Performance
Rugby Lab
Building the Rugby Lab performance system — designing clinic programs, leading international tours, and delivering coaching that brings elite standards to club-level rugby.
NOW
Coach
Cascais Rugby · Portugal
Coaching at Cascais Rugby in Portugal, applying international-level methods to player and team development.
2007–19
Professional Player · Los Pumas
19 Caps · Argentina · Centre
Debuted for Los Pumas in 2007, earning 19 Test caps and scoring 2 international tries. Club career spanned Argentina, France, Scotland, and Portugal — Natación y Gimnasia, Buenos Aires C&R, Pampas XV (Vodacom Cup), US Carcassonne (France), Glasgow Warriors (Pro12), Jaguares, Olimpia Lions, and Cascais.
Matías Orlando — Performance Coach
MATÍAS ORLANDO
Performance Coach
Rugby Lab

Performance Coach

MATÍAS
ORLANDO

The difference with the best isn't physical — it's in what they demand from themselves every single day.

Matías Orlando is a professional rugby player from Tucumán, Argentina, who has represented Los Pumas in 54 international Tests. A centre forged across Super Rugby, the English Premiership, and Major League Rugby — he became one of Argentina's most experienced backs and a central figure in their historic first victory over the All Blacks in November 2020.

As part of the Rugby Lab coaching team, Orlando brings the perspective of an active international — the preparation standards, game intelligence, and competitive habits forged at the highest level — and translates them into programs that give club players direct access to elite-grade coaching.

Position
Centre
International Caps
54 — Los Pumas (Argentina)
Super Rugby
59 apps · 15 tries · Jaguares
Notable
1st Argentina win vs All Blacks · 2020
NOW
Performance Coach
Rugby Lab
Delivering elite-level coaching to Rugby Lab programs — translating 54 Tests of international experience into technical sessions, player development, and performance culture for club rugby.
LOS PUMAS
International Player · Los Pumas
54 Caps · Argentina · Centre
54 Tests for Argentina including the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup cycles. A core member of the squad that defeated the All Blacks for the first time in history in November 2020.
2012–PRES
Professional Player
Centre · Argentina
Career across four competitions and countries — Pampas XV (Vodacom Cup), Jaguares (Super Rugby, 59 apps / 15 tries), Miami Sharks (Major League Rugby), Newcastle Falcons (Premiership), and Tarucas (Super Rugby Americas).
Rafael Iriarte — Coach
RAFAEL IRIARTE
Coach
Rugby Lab

Coach

RAFAEL
IRIARTE

The details that feel small in training are the ones that define you when the game is on the line.

Rafael Iriarte is an Argentine scrum-half from Buenos Aires, forged through the Jaguares development pathway and the highly competitive Super Rugby Americas circuit. As a key figure in Jaguares XV's SLAR championship-winning squad, Iriarte built the competitive habits and technical precision that define elite Argentine rugby.

At Rugby Lab, Iriarte channels his experience at the highest tier of South American rugby into player development — focusing on game management, breakdown technique, and the speed-under-pressure that separates good nines from great ones.

Position
Scrum-half
Franchise
Jaguares XV · Pampas XV
Championship
SLAR Champions · Jaguares XV
Competition
Super Rugby Americas · Selknam
NOW
Coach
Rugby Lab
Delivering scrum-half specific coaching and backs unit work within Rugby Lab clinics — bringing Super Rugby Americas-level game management and technical standards to the next generation.
2023–24
Professional Player
Selknam · Super Rugby Americas
Competed in Super Rugby Americas with Chilean franchise Selknam, continuing his development at the elite level of South American club rugby.
2022–23
Professional Player · Pampas XV
Scrum-half · Super Rugby Americas
Part of the inaugural Pampas XV roster for Super Rugby Americas following the Jaguares restructure. Previously won the SLAR championship with Jaguares XV, having come through the CUBA (URBA) development pathway.
Juan Pablo Castro — Coach
JUAN PABLO CASTRO
Coach
Rugby Lab · Benfica Rugby

Coach

JUAN PABLO
CASTRO

Intensity in training isn't optional — it's the only way to be ready when it counts.

Juan Pablo Castro is an Argentine centre from San Juan with over three seasons of Super Rugby Americas experience with Pampas XV and a call-up history with Argentina XV. A former Pumitas captain, Castro was built on power in contact, defensive solidity, and the ability to control midfield on both sides of the ball.

In late 2025, Castro signed with Benfica Rugby in Portugal — bringing his elite Argentine rugby credentials to European club rugby. Through Rugby Lab, he now connects that experience directly with player development programs, focusing on centre play, defensive structure, and professional-grade training culture.

Position
Centre
National Team
Argentina XV · Former Pumitas Captain
Super Rugby
3 seasons · Pampas XV
Current Club
Benfica Rugby · Portugal
NOW
Professional Player · Coach
Benfica Rugby · Rugby Lab
Active professional at Benfica Rugby in Portugal while contributing to Rugby Lab's coaching programs — translating Super Rugby Americas experience into practical development for club players across Europe.
2023–25
Professional Player · Pampas XV
Centre · Super Rugby Americas
Three seasons competing at the highest level of South American club rugby with Pampas XV in Super Rugby Americas. Recognised for physicality, defensive leadership, and ability to play both inside and outside centre.
2019–23
Player · Argentina XV · Jaguares XV
Centre · San Juan RC origin
Came through San Juan RC and the Jaguares XV pathway, earning Argentina XV call-ups and captaining Los Pumitas. Developed into one of Argentine rugby's most complete midfield players before making the move to Europe.
Manuel Vareiro — Coach
MANUEL VAREIRO
Coach
Rugby Lab · Provence Rugby

Coach

MANUEL
VAREIRO

Great players aren't born knowing how to read the game — they earn that clarity through thousands of hours of intentional work.

Manuel Vareiro is one of Portuguese rugby's brightest young talents — a fly-half and full-back who made his senior debut for Portugal XV in July 2024 and was named MVP of the U20 European Championship, which Portugal won. A key figure in Portugal's qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Vareiro brings the technical intelligence and decision-making of a modern European rugby professional.

After winning the national championship with GD Direito, Vareiro joined Provence Rugby in France's Pro D2 for the 2025–28 cycle — cementing his status as one of Iberian rugby's most exciting prospects. Through Rugby Lab, he brings this blend of youth, high performance, and European rugby intelligence directly into player development.

Position
Fly-half / Full-back
International
Portugal XV · Senior debut 2024
U20 Award
MVP · European Championship
Current Club
Provence Rugby · Pro D2 France
NOW
Professional Player · Coach
Provence Rugby · Rugby Lab
Playing Pro D2 rugby with Provence Rugby in France while contributing to Rugby Lab programs — bringing French professional rugby standards and modern playmaking intelligence to player development in Portugal.
2024–
International Player · Portugal XV
Fly-half / Full-back · Portugal
Senior international debut in July 2024 vs Namibia. Part of the Portugal squad that qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup — one of the nation's most important achievements in the professional era.
2022–25
Player · GD Direito
Fly-half · Portugal League
Senior debut and breakthrough at GD Direito, winning the Portuguese national championship. Named MVP of the U20 European Championship — which Portugal won — establishing himself as the nation's standout young playmaker before his move to France.

Coaching Philosophy

HOW WE COACH

ELITE STANDARDS

The habits, discipline, and training standards of international rugby don't stay at Test level — they belong at every level. We bring exactly what was demanded of us as professional players and apply it to every club we work with.

BUILD THE ATHLETE

Rugby skills matter. But the athlete underneath them matters more. Strength, speed, contact durability, and mental clarity are the foundation. We build those first, then build the rugby on top.

PRECISION OVER VOLUME

More sessions don't equal better results. Better-designed sessions do. We plan with intent, execute with focus, and recover with purpose. Every minute on the field is earned and structured.

TRAIN WITH THE BEST

Explore our programs and find the right development pathway for your team or squad.

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