Argentina named their training squad for the Rugby Championship earlier this week, with Felipe Contepomi the notable exclusion, as he will be playing for Stade Francais. Here’s a quick clip from a few months back that some of you had requested to see.
Captain and key player for so many years, Contepomi has ruled himself out of contention for the inaugral Rugby Championship due to commitments with club side Stade Francais in the Top 14.
Contepomi has been replaced by regular stand-in captain, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.
“It’s a great responsibility and a very nice opportunity, of which I am very proud to take,” he said.
“It’s a great honor and a sense of gratitude to all those who in one way or another, taught me the values snd attitudes that allowed me to get here.”
The Pumas will join the All Blacks, Springboks, and Wallabies in the rebranded Tri Nations tournament, as Argentina get their chance to impress in the new Rugby Championship. Lobbe said that their inclusion is integral to their overall development as a rugby nation.
“We are really looking forward to this historical event in which we want the team to end on October 6, having been faithful to their convictions and having played to their full potential,” he said.
“We know the magnitude of challenge before us, but we have to take all this to continue growing as a team. The truth is this is something spectacular that we have fought a very long time for. Today we can say that the Pumas have an annual competition, and it’s amazing.”
The short video below features a player that has given so much to the game, and has always been completely committed to the cause. Unfortunately on this occasion he got knocked out, but some of you wanted to see it again, so here it is.
How do you think Argentina will do in the first ever Rugby Championship?
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