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Felipe Contepomi is no longer the Head Coach of the Argentina XV. The World Rugby Hall of Famer is instead returning to Leinster to take-up a position as assistant backs coach. The 40-year-old will take-up his new position in Ireland in July.
As a player Contepomi wore the colors of Leinster from 2003-2009 and would win both the Pro 14 Championship (formerly Celtic League) and the Champions Cup (formerly Heineken Cup).
Prior to playing for Leinster Contepomi played in England for Bristol. Forming a halves combination with Agustin Pichot they Pumas duo helped take Bristol to the English Premiership final.
From Bristol Contepomi moved to Ireland in 2003 and then to France in 2009. He played for Toulon from 2009-2011 and then for Stade Français from 2011-2013. His career closed with a season playing for Newman back home in Buenos Aires.
Retirement came following the 2013 Rugby Championship. His final test was against Australia in Rosario. It saw him return as Argentina’s most capped player of all-time with 87 caps and also the country’s top point scorer.
His departure from the Argentina XV follows that of Daniel Hourcade no longer being Head Coach of Argentina. The double change sees a total overhaul of the leading Argentine representative teams. Yet there is more to follow with Los Jaguares to have a new man in charge with Mario Ledesma set to be named new Pumas Head Coach.
Leinster are currently the leading club team in Europe. The Irish province won the 2018 European Champions Cup Final, downing Racing 92 15-12 in Bilbao, Spain. From there they went on to win the 2018 Pro 14 title, defeating 2017 winners Scarlets in a home final in Dublin.
