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One of Argentina’s greatest professionals has confirmed his retirement at season’s end. Marcelo Bosch will step away from the professional game after a glittering career that saw him play 13 seasons at the highest levels of European rugby starting with Biarritz and most notably with Saracens.
It was at the latter where he reached the pinnacle of his career. Bosch would play in three Champions Cup finals with the London-based club, winning twice while also lifting two English Premiership titles. The 35-year-old played more than 100 games for each of the two clubs after departing Buenos Aires and his home club of Belgrano in 2006.
Bosch has confirmed that he will remain in England for the time being, continuing his commentary role with the BBC while taking on a coaching role with Midlands Premier side Burton RFC. He has not ruled out a return to his home country in the future.
The announcement all but confirms that Bosch will not be part of Argentina’s World Cup plans. Two shoulder surgeries have diminished his playing time this season and though the outside center options for Los Pumas have not been convincing, it’s unlikely Bosch would be physically capable of holding up to the rigors of test rugby.
His last match for Los Pumas came against Australia in the 2015 World Cup, eight years after his debut against Italy in Mendoza. Bosch won 39 caps in all, scoring 60 points with all but one start – his first – coming in the midfield.
The exile from test rugby has not been self-imposed. Since the conclusion of RWC 2015 Bosch has been a vocal opponent of the policy shift led by former Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade that saw several world class professionals overlooked for locally-based Jaguares players. He would have won many more caps otherwise, a fate suffered by other leading European professionals like Juan Imhoff and Saracens teammate Juan Figallo, the latter recently recalled by new Pumas coach Mario Ledesma.
Tributes to ‘Chelo’, as he is affectionately known, have poured in from former teammates including current Jaguares players Tomás Cubelli, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, and coach Gonzalo Quesada. Saracens have also published a video offering a farewell to the fan favorite featuring England stars Owen Farrell, Jamie George, and Billy Vunipola.
