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Argentina will have a new Head Coach for the new Rugby World Cup cycle. Australian Michael Cheika took charge of Los Pumas in 2022-2023. The new cycle sees Pumas legend Felipe Contepomi taking over. The transition sees Contepomi promoted from assistant to head Coach for the new era.
Cheika and Contepomi previously worked together with the former coaching the latter before they joined forced at Los Pumas. Indeed, Felipe Contepomi has a resumé which places him among the all-time great Pumas. He played in four Rugby World Cups, earned 87 caps and is in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
The UAR was considering more than one option. In addition to promoting Felipe Contepomi, there were advanced talks with Michael Cheika about him staying on until 2027. Cheika was recently reported as signing a new deal with the UAR.
Cheika made great efforts to fit-in with Los Pumas. The Australian went out of his way to learn Spanish, something no World Rugby referee has done since long before Argentina debuted in the Rugby Championship.
Cheika commented that:
“I would like to thank all the Argentines for the wonderful years spent together, in addition to the UAR, the staff and the players for having trusted me during this challenge. Having been Head Coach of Los Pumas gave me great honor, and it is up there with the experiences that I treasured most as a coach. While I was born in Australia, a great part of me will remain Argentina. I am convinced that Felipe and his staff will be in charge of the team in the best way possible.”
Felipe Contepomi comented:
“I had the honor of working alongside Michael Cheika in the consolidation of a sporting project, one that challenged us and provided enthusiasm as part of a great Argentine team, and for this reason I am grateful to be afforded the extraordinary opportunity that the UAR has provided for me to keep working towards the goal of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.”
Contepomi takes charge of Los Pumas at the age of 46. It comes a decade after he retired as a player. Contepomi played for Argentina from 1998–2013. He was a Puma throughout this period and played for Los Pumas 7’s from 1998-2002.
He played at the 2001 Rugby Sevens World Cup which took place at Mar del Plata in Argentina. His professional career also began in 2001. He played for Bristol in England from 2001-2003 before moving to Ireland. He played there for Leinster from 2003-2009. Finally, he played in France for Toulon and Stade Français for two seasons each from 2009-2013.
Contepomi left a mark at Rugby World Cup 1999 by providing the assist for Diego Albanese’s try in the win over Ireland. This saw Argentina reach the Quarter Finals for the first time. Eight years later he was nominated as one of four of rite best players in the World at Rugby World Cup 2007. He won Bronze with Los Pumas that year and captained the side to a Quarter Final exit in 2011.
He turned to coaching following his final test cap which was against Australia in Rosario in the 2013 Rugby Championship. He joined Ricardo Le Fort in coaching the Argentina XV in the 2015 Nations Cup in Romania.
Contepomi was an assistant coach of Los Jaguares in the inaugural Super Rugby season. He was also Head Coach of the Argentina XV from 2017-2018. He then returned to Ireland to become assistant coach under Leo Cullen at Leinster.
His return from Ireland to Argentina in 2002 was to work as assistant to Michael Cheika. Now he has secured the big job. Under Cheika, Los Pumas reached the Semi Finals of Rugby World Cup 2023. The team also made history by defeating the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022.
Argentina’s next task will be on home soil. Los Pumas face France in July 2024. This will be the debut of the Contepomi regime. Argentina are scheduled to face France twice and also take-on a Tier 2 team in July.
Contepomi scored a record 31 points against France as captain of Argentina in 2010. The 41–13 victory was Argentina’s best win during the Santiago Phelan years. Contepomi played fly half that day.
Whether it was at fly half or inside center, Contepomi was in the thick of the action. With 28 players missing, Contepomi captained Argentina against the British & Irish Lions in 2005. The South Americans were expected to be badly beaten but competed to a 25-25 draw.
The result in Cardiff was part of making the world take notice as Argentina fought for more opportunities. Contepomi was able to play in the Rugby Championship before retiring. In 2025 he will coach Argentina against the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, Ireland.
