A player-turned-coach with a deep love for the game, Contepomi brings more than just tactical knowledge to the Pumas, who this November arrive in Europe for their Autumn Nations Series campaign. As we shall see, his unique combination of rugby experience, an academic background in medicine, and his time in Ireland have all helped shape the man who has just led the Pumas to their most successful Rugby Championship ever.
The Renaissance Man
Felipe Contepomi is not your typical rugby coach. A qualified medical doctor, he balanced his rugby career with academic pursuits, earning his medical degree from the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) while playing at fly-half for Leinster. In Dublin, this dual career - his meticulous nature and capacity to manage complex, high-pressure environments - served Contepomi and the province well.
Contepomi has spoken about the discipline required to balance both of his passions, noting how the analytical and methodical mindset of a doctor often translates to the rugby field. His medical background has undoubtedly contributed to his approach as a coach, emphasising player welfare and a thorough understanding of injury management.
In the 2005-06 season he was top points scorer both domestically and in Europe, but missed the final of the Heineken Cup after injuring his knee in the semi-final win over Munster (he was replaced by a certain Johnny Sexton). He won the Celtic League with Leinster in 2008.
In his international career, the Buenos Aires-born playmaker made 87 appearances for the Pumas, notching up 651 points across a 15-year career that ended in 2013.
Formative years in Ireland
Contepomi's time in Ireland was crucial to his development, both as a player and later as a coach. He first moved to Europe to play for Bristol, whom he represented from 2001 until the move to Leinster in 2003. In Dublin, he became a fan favourite, and helped mould the team into the juggernaut it would become, including his key role in taking them to that pivotal European final in 2009 - a victory that marked the club’s rise as a European rugby powerhouse.
Ireland also gave Contepomi his first taste of coaching. After playing for Toulon and Stade Français, he had coaching spells with the short-lived Jaguares in Super Rugby and Argentina XV (the equivalent of an international A team), before returning to Leinster in 2018 as a backs coach. The Leinster years helped Contepomi refine his coaching philosophy, with an emphasis on structured attacking play, tactical awareness, and team cohesion. When he left, in May 2022, it was to be reunited with his former Leinster coach, Michael Cheika, who had taken the reins with Argentina.
Contepomi’s impact on the Pumas
Appointed as head coach after Cheika's departure, Contepomi wasted no time in making his mark. Under his guidance, the Pumas have embraced a more expansive but disciplined style of play, which was evident in their 2024 Rugby Championship campaign - their best since joining the Southern Hemisphere's then Big Three back in 2012. Argentina beat all three opponents for the first time in a single campaign, and if they failed to back up some of those impressive wins by doing the double on any side, it demonstrated a marked growth in the team's capabilities.
Contepomi has brought a fresh perspective to the Pumas, blending Argentine flair with the tactical discipline he honed in Europe. His coaching philosophy prioritises adaptability, making Argentina capable of switching between free-flowing attacking rugby and gritty defensive performances, depending on the situation.
The 47-year-old is all about improvement, as he told media back in his homeland: “What I value most about this team is the desire to impose itself day after day, to always want to be there. And no matter how things turn out, the next day you recover to be better. When you get into that rhythm of preparing all the time and trying to improve day after day, you definitely improve."
Preparing for the 2024 Autumn Nations Series
As Argentina head into the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, the team looks to build on the momentum of their Rugby Championship success. The upcoming fixtures against European heavyweights will test Contepomi's ability to fine-tune his squad for high-stakes games. His strategic acumen, along with his intimate knowledge of Northern Hemisphere rugby, will be crucial, particularly on his returns to the Emerald Isle to face Ireland.
Test matches against full-strength Ireland and France will be particularly fascinating, with both teams ranked above Argentina (currently sixth in the world). Key players such as fly-half Tomás Albornoz and fullback Juan Cruz Mallía are fully capitalising on the Pumas' pack, and will be essential to Argentina’s hopes. But Contepomi’s influence behind the scenes is just as important. His ability to blend the raw physicality of Argentine rugby with a more calculated approach could be the recipe for another breakthrough campaign.
Argentina's Autumn Nations Series fixtures*:
Italy v Argentina, Saturday 9th November (18:40)
Ireland v Argentina, Friday 15th November (20:10)
France v Argentina, Friday 22nd November (21:10)
*all times local
