Argentina name ‘ex-hooker’ Ledesma as new nat’l coach

Smith gets another final chance

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 1, (RTRS): Argentina have named former hooker Mario Ledesma as the new coach of their national rugby side, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said on Wednesday.

Ledesma replaces Daniel Hourcade, who resigned in June after back to back losses at home to Wales left his side with just two wins in 17 games.

The 45-year-old Ledesma played in four World Cups for Argentina between 1999 and 2011 and has coached at French clubs Stade Francais and Montpellier, New South Wales Waratahs and Argentine Super Rugby club Jaguares.

He said he was looking forward to the challenge of lifting Argentine rugby, which has gone downhill since Ledesma helped them to third place in the 2007 World Cup, to their best ever performance.

His first games in charge will be in November when Argentina play three tests away to Ireland, France and Scotland.

Matt Toomua has signed a twoand-a-half-year contract with Rugby Australia (RA) and Melbourne Rebels to return to Super Rugby next season and boost his chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The 28-year-old centre earned the most recent of his 33 test caps for the Wallabies during the 2016 Bledisloe Cup before moving to English Premiership side Leicester Tigers.

Australians who ply their trade abroad are not eligible for national team selection unless they have won 60 caps.