Argentina

Ex All Blacks Brad Mooar joins Los Pumas coaching team

Published

2 years ago

7th March 2024

Ex All Blacks Brad Mooar joins Los Pumas coaching team

Photo from Alasdair Massie from Cambridge, UK - 15-09 RWC New Zealand vs Argentina 059

Days before an Argentina training camp in London, Los Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi has added New Zealander Bradley Mooar to the coaching staff of the national team. Mooar, who recently served as an attacking consultant for the Scottish national team and has worked with teams such as the Crusaders and the All Blacks in his career, will join Andrés Bordoy and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, who had already renewed their contracts with the Argentine team.

Regarding the arrival of the New Zealand coach, Felipe Contepomi stated: “We are very happy to have Brad (Mooar) with us; we have no doubt that he will add a lot to the team, based on his experience and knowledge of the game. His background in coaching teams from both the Southern and Northern hemispheres will be of great value to everyone, and we are looking forward to starting work together.”

Regarding his new role as assistant coach of Los Pumas, Mooar commented: “My family and I are delighted and grateful to join Felipe and Los Pumas. We love the culture and rugby of the Argentine people. It was very exciting when Felipe contacted us about this opportunity, and our conversations since then have been deep and fruitful regarding rugby and life. Everything fits! We are excited to get started. I appreciate Felipe and the UAR for their support and work to make this happen. Let’s go!”

Brad Mooar was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on August 28, 1974 (49 years old), and in the 1990s he competed for the fly-half position in Canterbury against the renowned Andrew Merthens, who debuted for the All Blacks in 1995. Faced with this situation, Mooar chose to play for three seasons with Mid-Canterbury, a provincial team with which he won the third division title in 1998 and achieved promotion to the second division.

His first coaching experience was with the Christchurch Colts in 2007; later (2011) he collaborated with Craig Philpott in the Canterbury Colts. In 2012, he left his job as a lawyer and moved to South Africa to take over as head coach of the Eastern Province Kings, with whom he won the Currie Cup first division title, and later became an assistant coach for the Southern Kings (2013). He returned to his homeland to serve as head coach and director of rugby at Southland (2014-2015). In 2015, Todd Blackadder called him to replace Aaron Mauger (who accepted a proposal from Leicester Tigers) as backs coach for the Crusaders. With Scott Robertson’s arrival, Brad Mooar remained in his position and participated in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby three-peat (2017, 2018, and 2019).

He then embarked on his first major adventure in Europe, where he was head coach of the Welsh side Scarlets (2019), and the following year (2020) he returned to his country after being chosen by Ian Foster to work as backs and attack coach for the All Blacks (2020-2022). His most recent collaboration was throughout 2023, summoned by Gregor Townsend as attack coach for the Scottish national team.

Related Topics:Argentina Brad Mooar Felipe Contepomi

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Kenny Lynn departs Highlanders to join Los Pumas

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Argentina

Contepomi makes five changes as Argentina seek redemption against France

Published

2 years ago

12th July 2024

rugbyisthegame

Contepomi makes five changes as Argentina seek redemption against France

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has made five changes to his starting XV for the second test against France, as Los Pumas aim to level the series at the Estadio José Amalfitani in Buenos Aires on Saturday, July 13. The match, set to kick off at 16:00 local time (21:00 French time), comes after Argentina’s 28-13 defeat in Mendoza last weekend.

In the forwards, Mayco Vivas replaces Thomas Gallo at loosehead prop, while Franco Molina comes in for Matías Alemanno in the second row. The backline sees more significant changes, with Lautaro Bazán Vélez taking over from Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half. Santiago Chocobares, fresh from Toulouse’s Top 14 victory, starts at inside centre in place of Jerónimo de la Fuente. Santiago Cordero, returning from a serious knee injury, replaces Martín Bogado at fullback.

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The match will be a milestone occasion for flanker Pablo Matera, who is set to earn his 100th cap for Los Pumas. Matera becomes only the third Argentine player to reach this landmark, joining Agustín Creevy (108) and Nicolás Sánchez (104) in this elite club. The former captain will start at blindside flanker and serve as vice-captain alongside Marcos Kremer.

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Julian Montoya retains the captaincy and his place at hooker, while the electric Mateo Carreras remains on the wing. Santiago Carreras continues at fly-half, tasked with unleashing a backline that struggled to penetrate the French defence in Mendoza.

On the bench, Pedro Rubiolo is included in the matchday 23 for the first time this July window, offering cover in the back row.

These changes come as Argentina seeks to halt France’s bid for their first series win in Argentina since 1998. Los Pumas will be eager to improve their execution and counter France’s physicality as they aim to level the series in front of their home crowd.

Argentina XV

1. VIVAS, Mayco (22 caps)
2. MONTOYA, Julián (96 caps) – Captain
3. BELLO, Eduardo (22 caps)
4. MOLINA, Franco (1 cap)
5. PAULOS, Lucas (13 caps)
6. MATERA, Pablo (99 caps) – Vice-captain
7. KREMER, Marcos (65 caps) – Vice-captain
8. OVIEDO, Joaquín (3 caps)
9. BAZÁN VÉLEZ, Lautaro (14 caps)
10. CARRERAS, Santiago (43 caps)
11. CARRERAS, Mateo (18 caps)
12. CHOCOBARES, Santiago (19 caps)
13. MORONI, Matías (81 caps)
14. DELGUY, Bautista (26 caps)
15. CORDERO, Santiago (50 caps)

Replacements

16. RUIZ, Ignacio (8 caps)
17. GALLO, Thomas (24 caps)
18. SORDONI, Lucio (6 caps)
19. ALEMANNO, Matías (95 caps)
20. RUBIOLO, Pedro (10 caps)
21. BERTRANOU, Gonzalo (58 caps)
22. ALBORNOZ, Tomás (6 caps)
23. ORLANDO, Matías (59 caps)

Argentina

Kenny Lynn departs Highlanders to join Los Pumas

Published

2 years ago

20th June 2024

rugbyisthegame

Kenny Lynn departs Highlanders to join Los Pumas

Kendrick “Kenny” Lynn, the Highlanders’ attack coach, has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Argentinian national rugby team, Los Pumas. The official announcement came from the Highlanders today, confirming Lynn’s departure from the Super Rugby Pacific franchise to pursue his long-held ambition of coaching at the international level.

Lynn, who had a successful playing career with the Highlanders and Southland before spending the latter part of his career with Lyon in France, returned to the Highlanders as a coach in 2024. His original contract with the Highlanders was set to run for three years, but the opportunity to work with the Pumas under head coach Felipe Contepomi proved too enticing to pass up.

Expressing his mixed emotions about the move, Lynn stated, “When I returned from France, my intention was always to see out my contract with the Highlanders, but an opportunity to coach at the international level has always been a personal goal of mine. I am delighted to be taking up the role with the Pumas but obviously disappointed I will not be carrying on with the Highlanders. I hugely appreciate everything this organization has done for me. I’ve loved this season and look forward to watching the team in the next few years.”

Highlanders CEO Roger Clark was supportive of Lynn’s decision, acknowledging the natural progression for both players and coaches to strive for national team representation. “We’re proud of Kenny and his appointment as a coach for the Pumas,” Clark said. “We will certainly miss him in our coaching team, however, it’s natural for both players and coaches to strive for a national team. We wish Kenny, Becs, and the kids the very best on their next adventure.”

Lynn’s departure leaves a void in the Highlanders’ coaching staff, but the franchise has assured fans that an announcement regarding his replacement will be made later this year, ahead of the 2025 season.

As Lynn embarks on this new chapter in his coaching career, he will undoubtedly bring his wealth of experience and tactical knowledge to the Pumas setup. With the Rugby Championship on the horizon, rugby enthusiasts will be keen to see the impact of Lynn’s appointment on Argentina’s performance in the highly competitive international arena.