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Three Americas players are to be inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi, Canadian Al Charron, and Phaidra Knight of the USA will become the 133rd, 134th, and 137th inductees respectively in a ceremony to be held on November 10 in Rugby, England. Also joining the Hall will be England’s Rob Andrew and Fabien Pelous of France.
Contepomi becomes the third Argentine player to achieve the honor, following in the footsteps of the great Hugo Porta (2008) and former teammate Agustín Pichot (2011). Charron was preceded by his good friend Gareth Rees (2011) and Heather Moyse (2016) in becoming the third Canadian. Knight is just the second USA player to join the exclusive club, following former teammate Patty Jervey (2014), though the country is also represented by the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Gold-winning men’s teams, recognized in 2012.
A medical doctor by trade, ‘Dr. Phil’ was a hugely popular player for club and country during his illustrious career. From his international debut in 1998 to his final appearance against the Wallabies at the age of 36 in 2013, Contepomi won a record 87 caps for Argentina.
His career had it all. Beginning with Buenos Aires club Newman, he first cap was against Chile, just three months following the debut of twin brother Manuel in Pumas colors. One year later he was playing in a Rugby World Cup Quarter final, his first of four such tournaments. Across 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011 he played in 17 matches, winning 11 and scoring 125 points.
In 2008 he succeeded Agustín Pichot as appointed captain of Los Pumas, a role he would assume through the 2011 World Cup. In total he led his country on 25 occasions.
Contepomi saw great success as a professional player first in England with Bristol, then in Ireland with Leinster, and finally France with Toulon and then Stade Français. He won a Celtic League (now Pro 14) title with Leinster in 2008 and then captured the Heineken Cup (now Champions Cup) in 2009.
Playing as a flyhalf or inside center he would start 75 of his 87 test caps and was often employed as the primary goal kicker. He finished his international career with 651 points, also a Pumas record, and scored more than 2300 all told in European club competitions.
There is no doubt of Contepomi’s excellence. His inspiration continues now as he is Head Coach of the Argentina XV. The potential exists for him to one day coach his beloved Pumas.
AL CHARRON
One of the most dominant loose forwards in the world during the 1990s, Al Charron won 76 caps for his country between 1990 and 2003, a record that stood until broken by Aaron Carpenter in June of this year. The 6’5″ (1.95m) Ottawa native was most often employed as a blindside flanker but was also comfortable as a lock or No 8.
A fearsome tackler and powerful ball carrier, Charron led by example and captained his country on 25 occasions, a Canadian record he shares with Gareth Rees. Originally from the Ottawa Irish club, his professional career took him to England with Moseley and Bristol and also France with Pau and Dax.
Charron played in four consecutive World Cups for Canada finishing in 2003. He was also part of the Canadian team at the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens and played for the Barbarians on five occasions. In 1999 he was selected to the World XV to play against Argentina.
Perhaps his finest moment in a Canadian jersey was as part of the outstanding 1991 side that reached the World Cup Quarter Finals, a match that saw Charron score a try against New Zealand. It remains the only Quarter Final appearance in Canadian men’s rugby history.
Rugby Canada announced in December 2016 that the National Training Center in Langford, BC, would be named in his honor.
PHAIDRA KNIGHT
Born and raised in the small rural town of Irwinton, Georgia, Phaidra Knight is one of the USA’s most revered rugby players. It was there where she learned the core values of dedication, commitment, hard work, and discipline, qualities that she embodied in a highly-decorated rugby career that began in 1997.
Knight won 35 caps for the USA and appeared at three Women’s Rugby World Cups, in 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was named to the Tournament Dream Team in the first two, and named USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2010. She also played for the USA Women’s Sevens side for four years starting in 2006.
Originally a prop, it was as a flanker where she was at her best. Earlier this year she returned at the age of 42 as a hooker in an attempt to win a spot at the 2017 World Cup but ultimately fell just short, announcing her retirement just before the tournament and instead participating as a television analyst.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin law school, Knight remains involved with the game as a coach, a judicial officer, and a member of the USA Rugby Board.
