I WILL ALWAYS LOVE IT THERE
FELIPE CONTEPOMI insists his love for Leinster never went away after the Argentina legend confirmed his return to the Irish province next season.
Contepomi – who made 116 appearances for Leinster between 2003 and 2009 – will work alongside Leo Cullen as backs coach in Dublin.
The 40-year-old former out-half has left a coaching role with the Argentinian Rugby Union to replace Girvan Dempsey at the RDS.
“Leinster was more than just a team or a club I played for, it was a huge part of my life,” said Contepomi, who won the Heineken Cup during his playing career in the Irish capital.
“I studied in an Irish school in Argentina when I was growing up and I have had relationships with Ireland for most of my life.
“I have always followed Leinster’s results and even when I moved to France to play for Toulon, I came back to watch Leinster in the European finals of 2011 and 2012.
“Since then I’ve had their results on my phone and followed them every weekend. I have a few teams on the results app – my football team in Argentina which is Independiente, Barcelona because of Lionel Messi and Leinster. I follow all three.” It’s not often Leinster and Barcelona superstar Messi are mentioned in the same sentence but in Contepomi Cullen now has at his disposal one of the brightest minds in the game.
His previous rugby role involved developing talented young Argentine talent for the country’s Super Rugby side Jaguares and Contepomi insists coaching is now what makes him tick.
The challenge for him and Cullen is to replicate last season’s stunning success in the campaign ahead after they claimed both the Guinness PRO14 and European Champions Cup titles.
It made Leinster only the fifth side to seal a domestic and European double. “I’ve been enjoying life after rugby and when you retire you need to find another place to be part of the game,” said Contepomi, who will be in charge of his former Leinster team-mates Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney and Sean O’brien for the 2018-19 campaign.
“That can be as a coach, a doctor, a supporter or maybe as a journalist but I’ve found I enjoy it most as a coach.
“I still speak to Johnny every now and again as well as guys like Brian O’driscoll, Gordon D’arcy and Denis Hickie. It’s been great to stay in contact with them.”
SOUTHAMPTON are set to land £17m Basel winger Mohamed Elyounoussi (left).
Wolfsburg have also met Basel’s asking price but Elyounoussi is expected to opt for Saints, who confirmed Dusan Tadic has moved to Ajax for £11.5m.
CHELSEA STARLET REECE JAMES HAS JOINED WIGAN ON A SEASON-LONG LOAN