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Los Pumas have added Corcho Fernández Lobbe to their coaching staff. The appointment sees the legendary former Argentina captain returning home from France to boost his country’s prospects for RWC 2019.
Argentina are in Pool D, the Pool of Death. Not only is it the most difficult in the competition but it is the most challenging of any in RWC history. Los Pumas face England, France, Tonga, and the USA. Three wins will be required to advance to the play-off’s phase.
The move means Fernández Lobbe leaves his coaching post at Toulon. This in itself provides the Mario Ledesma regime with notable insight as French internationals Guilhem Guirado, Mathieu Bastareaud, and Anthony Belleau are at the club. Of them Guirado is the national captain and Bastereaud has served as vice-captain.
This in itself is a massive coup d’etat for Argentina. Yet it is only part of the gain as Fernández Lobbe is among the all-time great Argentine flankers and was among the elite performers at RWCs 2007, 2011, and 2015.
He earned his final cap was in the RWC 2015 Bronze Final against South Africa. It was his second appearance in such a match, the first being in RWC 2007 when he was a Bronze Medal winner. He would earn 71 caps in total and his final match of rugby would be captaining the Barbarians to victory over England.
Following his retirement Fernández Lobbe turned to coaching. He would do so with Toulon, the same club he played for from 2009-2018. Toulon was his second professional club, the first having been the Sale Sharks in England. He was a Shark from 2006-2009 and was even the club captain.
His move to Toulon would see him rewarded with vast trophies. He was a European Champions Cup winner in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He would also win the Top 14, becoming a French champion in 2014.
The club is seeking to return to this glory period once again but will not have the services of Fernández Lobbe following this season. Toulon’s official website confirmed the departure of Corcho Fernández Lobbe to join the Pumas coaching staff on July 01.
His role with Los Pumas is to be similar to that formerly held by Pablo Bouza. He is to join Head Coach Mario Ledesma in addition to Gonzalo Quesada, Nicolás Fernández Miranda. in having the responsibility of a successful RWC this year in Japan.
