Tiziano Barrios has an unusual path. Initially spotted by a football agency for his physical qualities, he joined Newell's Old Boys' youth teams aiming to play as a goalkeeper. At 15, his physical development steered him towards rugby. Two years later, he joined the UAR academy and went on to play in the U20 international competitions with Argentina in 2024 and 2025. At 18, Activrep identified his profile while he was still represented by a football-background agency. A collaboration was set up: the existing agency brought its relationship with the player; Activrep brought its knowledge of European professional rugby and the French market.
The challenge was turning a very early-identified potential into a profile that was legible and relevant for the European market. Tiziano still had little rugby experience but showed the characteristics of a young, high-potential second row. The French market also presented a factor decisive for his trajectory: the possibility of progressively building JIFF status.
Activrep identified the player at 18, then built a relationship with the agency representing him to understand his situation and objectives. His profile was assessed against the needs of the European market and French regulatory specifics. The positioning work included understanding the JIFF system and its importance in French clubs' recruitment strategies. Activrep then positioned the profile on the market until an opportunity with Aviron Bayonnais materialised.
In June 2025, Tiziano Barrios joined Aviron Bayonnais to continue his development in France. This move marked a new stage in his trajectory, notably with the possibility of progressively building JIFF status. A year later, he continues to develop within the club.
High-potential trajectories are not always the most obvious ones. Identifying them early means looking beyond traditional paths and understanding the conditions that will allow them to develop.