Felipe Contepomi will leave Leinster at the end of the season in order to become an assistant coach for Argentina under Michael Cheika.
Contepomi joined Leinster’s coaching team in 2018, having previously played for the Irish province from 2003 to 2009.
The former Argentina international is currently acting as Leinster’s backs coach but will return to his home country to join former Leinster head coach Michael Cheika on Los Pumas’ coaching team at the end of the season.
Contepomi gave his thanks to Leinster’s staff and players while explaining that there is no higher honour for a coach than working with your home country.
Felipe Contepomi on leaving Leinster.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for me and for my family to return home but I would like to say how thankful I am to Leo Cullen and to Leinster Rugby for the opportunity to come back to Leinster and to Dublin over the last few years,” Contepomi said.
“It was an easy decision to come back to the club and I have loved every minute of my time here working with Leo and all the coaches and backroom team.
“Of course, I would also like to thank all the players that I have had the privilege and the pleasure to work with. My time as a coach has only added to the warmth and the love I have for the club from my time here as a player.
“While there have been great moments on the field, it is the memories and the friendships made off the field that I will take with me. There is still of course a huge end to the season to come and I hope to finish the season strong before heading home.
“This is a proud moment for me and for my family. The opportunity and the challenge presented by Michael Cheika and the UAR is one that excites me and I very much look forward to continuing my coaching journey back home.
“To be able to coach your country is special. There is no higher honour as a coach and I look forward to getting started in due course.”
Felipe Contepomi joined Leinster Rugby as a player in 2003 earning 116 caps.
🏆 | During that time, he won a Celtic League in 2008 and a Heineken Cup in 2009.#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/v98eUyITnA
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 16, 2022
Argentina are aiming to turn things around in 2022.
Cheika and Contepomi will hope to bring success back to Argentina, after a difficult 2021 for Loss Pumas, which resulted in former head coach Mario Ledesma stepping down.
Argentina secured their first-ever win against the All Blacks in 2020, but they won just three of their 12 test matches last year.
Los Pumas are playing for the first time this year against Scotland on July 2nd, although Cheika and Contepomi will have little time to work with the team before then due to club commitments.
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