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The careers of many Argentine players have been defined in the English Premiership. Many have used it as a stepping-stone to Los Pumas. Others have arrived in England young and gone on to enjoy lengthily periods in the competition. Who then are the very best? The following selection notes the leading Argentine player per position to have played in the English Premiership. It contains multiple Pumas captains and all fifteen men played in Rugby World Cups.
1 – Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers)
A mainstay in England, Marcos Ayerza was a one-club player and is a Leicester Tigers legend. For the club he competed in finals in both the English Premiership and the Europeans Champions Cup. He was a involved in finals over consecutive years and an English champion in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013. Suggesting that Los Pumas have missed the loose head prop is an understatement. Argentina are yet to replace the loose head prop whose last cap was in 2015.
2 – Federico Mendez (Bath, Northampton Saints)
Infamous for knocking out England lock Paul Ackford when he was still a teenager, Mendez was a no-nonsense character who could play all across the front row. It was at hooker where he played the majority of his rugby in England, and where ‘Freddie’ won two European Championship titles, firstly for Bath and secondly for Northampton. In doing so he became the first player ever to win the title on two occasions. Neither club has won since. Generally regarded as one of the best hookers in the world at his peak, the Pumas legend moved to France and then South Africa before retiring in 2005.
3 – Roberto Grau (Saracens)
As tough as nails, Grau played three years in England after arriving from Transvaal in South Africa. The former Pumas loosehead was one of the standout props in the Premiership during his time with Saracens, where he played in a star-studded forward pack alongside the likes of Francois Pienaar, Richard Hill, and Paul Wallace. A fearsome sight with ball in hand, restrictions on foreign players forced Grau out of Saracens and from there he moved on to play in France.
4 – Ignacio Fernández Lobbe (Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Bath)
After beginning his career in France, ‘Nacho’ moved to England in his fifth year as a pro. There he won both the Challenge Cup and Premiership title with the Sharks, both times starting in the second row. Despite having retired from Los Pumas in 2008, he continued playing in England, excelling with Northampton. In fact so good was he that Bath brought him in out of retirement for one final run.
5 – Mariano Galarza (Worcester Warriors, Gloucester)
s RWC 2011 an 2015 second-rower, Mariano Galarza played in England from 2013-2018. He was a regular for both the Worcester Warriors and Gloucester, which coincided with him holding down a starting spot in Los Pumas in 2013-2014. He is also the only player in his position based in Europe to receive a cap following RWC 2015.
6 – Pablo Matera (Leicester Tigers)
Capped as a teenager, the current Pumas captain became a big name in rapid time. His performances in the 2013 Rugby Championship caught the eye of the Leicester Tigers who signed him that year. In his two years as a Tigers, Matera developed into the explosive ball-carrier that he is today.
7 – Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Sale Sharks)
Having arrived at the reigning English champion side on his first professional contract, Juan Martín quickly rose to be a permanent fixture in the back row. So impressed was Sale with ‘Corcho’ that he was named club captain, leading the team in the 2008-2009 season. It would be his final year as he received a big money offer to join Toulon whom he has gone on to win the Top 14 and three European titles.
8 – Juan Manuel Leguizamón (London Irish)
Having performed so well at the age of 21 for Argentina against the British & Irish Lions in 2005, Leguizamón was signed by London Irish the following season. He was made famous for the wrong reasons, though, as an attempted dive went horribly wrong as he knocked on and botched a simple try. For three seasons the Pumas star was an effective loose forward, but never quite reached the heights he would later in his career in France.
9 – Agustín Pichot (Richmond, Bristol)
The former Pumas captain played in finals in both the Top 14 and the Premiership and also achieved the feat of scoring tries in both English and French club finals. His playing for Richmond made him one of the most known Pumas at the 1999 World Cup and set the foundation for what was to follow professionally and at international level.
10 – Felipe Contepomi (Bristol)
‘Dr. Phil’ began his professional career in the English west country with Bristol. Along with countryman Agustín Pichot he formed an outstanding halfback combination in the 2002 Premiership Final. Bristol lost 28-22 but Contepomi kicked all his goals. His exceptional goal-kicking continued in the following season, where he kicked six goals as Bristol defeated Clermont at the Marcel Michelin in the Heineken Cup.
11 – Diego Albanese (Gloucester, Leeds Carnegie)
RWC 1995, 1999 and 2003 Pumas winger Diego Albanese played both England and France. It was in the former where he left his mark most. In his Premiership debut for Leeds Tykes he defeated giants, the Leicester Tigers. In all he played 50 Premiership matches, scoring five tries.
12 – Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle Falcons)
Having turned down selection for Italy, Juan Pablo Socino was rewarded with an eventual call-up for Los Pumas. He went to RWC 2015 following a strong season for the Newcastle Falcons whom he called home from 2014-2018.
13 – Marcelo Bosch (Saracens)
An English Premiership winner in 2016 and 2018; and a European Champions Cup winner in 2016 and 2017, Marcelo Bosch enjoyed a highly successful time with Saracens. It converted onto the international stage as in 2015, Bosch was Argentina’s best outside center in RWC history. In the years since Los Pumas have struggled to replace him and this continues now in 2020.
14 – Gonzalo Camacho (Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers)
s The ever-present winger that is ‘Gonzo’ burst onto the international scene in 2009 by appearing in the Rugby Sevens World Cup Final and scoring a try in Argentina’s victory over England. In his second season for Harlequins he scored the Challenge Cup winning try in 2011. After moving to Exeter that year, he won the Aviva Premiership Game Changer of the season. Leicester picked him up in 2013 but injuries delayed his Tigers debut for an incredible two years, and he is now hoping to make up for lost time.
15 – Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs)
During his two seasons with the Exeter Chiefs, Santiago Cordero scored scintillating tries and broke records. He set a record for defenders beaten of 96 in the 2018-2019 season, a number unmatched by all other players. He was named in the English Premiership Dream Team for the 2018-2019 season.
