Julio Cesar Giraldo Jaramillo, is a Colombian professional rugby union player. Julio currently plays for Rugby United New York in the Major League Rugby and represents Old Blue R.F.C. in the ARP at the Amateur level. He became the first Colombian to have ever played professionally in Major League Rugby and the second to ever play professionally in the Colombia rugby history. Giraldo represented ":es:Selección de rugby de Colombia|Tucanes" Colombia under 18 side through 2011-2013 gaining several caps. He was also, at the time, the first and only player formed in a club from the Caribbean coast to make it to the squad.
Career
He joined the Caporos Rugby club in Monteria-Colombia in 2011 and quickly earned selection for the first team despite his young age. After a few outstanding performances, he was selected for :es:Selección de rugby de Colombia|Tucanes the Colombian national under-18 side from 2011 to 2013. In 2014 injuries prevented him from attending senior national team camps in the hopes of selection. He kept playing for his hometown club till the end of 2014. At the age of 19, Julio moved to the United States Of America on February 9, 2015, where he joined Old Blue RFC. Despite having several performances in the D2 side he only was selected once for the first team. In summer 2015 he played rugby league for New York Knights in the USARL where he suffered his first major injury. In September 2017, after two years in USA Giraldo traveled to France where the lack of contacts forced him to join Tec Electrogaz Rugby in Promotion honneur. After performances, he had a trial at Clamart 92 where he was selected for the team and played in Federal 2 till May 2018. In 2018, Giraldo went back to the states due to his new immigration status and rejoined his two former clubs mentioned above. He did not compete constantly during the rest of 2018 due to personal reasons. In 2019 he committed 100% to his clubs and his career and gained a lot of the first-team action. Fall season 2019 was one of Julio's best seasons, despite having several injuries and not being recovered 100% he managed to perform at the top level. In December 2019, Giraldo was offered a one-month trial by coach Greg McWilliams at the pro team Rugby United New York. in January he was asked to remain in the training squad for a month. After 60 days of intense training and two preseason games, he was offered his first professional contract, becoming then the first Colombian player to make it to the MLR and the second player to play professionally in Colombia rugby history, as well as joining players such as Ben Foden, Mathie Basteraud, Dylan Fawsitt, Cathal Marshall, Harry Bennet, Nate Brakerly, Connor Wallace-Sims, and Paddy Ryan.
Professional rugby debut
Giraldo made his professional rugby debut for Rugby United New York on February 9, 2020, in the first week of the MLR against New England Free Jacks in Las Vegas at Sam Boyd stadium. He came in from the bench on the first half replacing injured fellow Trevor Cassidy. He played 43 minutes, attempting 8 tackles with a 100% finishing, also got 2 turnovers; with coaches and teammates calling it a decent performance.
