As a recent inductee into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, Los Pumas legend Felipe Contepomi needs no introduction.

But while proud of his past, the Argentina XV coach is more concerned about what the future holds, which, in the first instance, is the opportunity to win back the Americas Rugby Championship title they lost last year to the USA in dramatic circumstances.

For his second campaign at the helm, Contepomi will have former Los Pumas team-mates Ignacio Fernández Lobbe and Diego Ternavasio working alongside him as they look to develop the next generation of international players.

OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP

“We see this team as a place where players can come and develop; it is up to each player to use the opportunity,” explained Argentina's record points scorer.

“For us it is not about the time they spend with us as a team, but their whole season. We work hand in hand with their club coaches, produce individual fitness programmes and work on specifics with each player, reviewing them every six months. We want them here for what they do at their clubs.”

Acknowledging that the gap between professional and amateur rugby is huge, he sees Argentina XV as a means of empowering players to grow their game.

“Those who use what we give them, get better when they return to their clubs. Even if we look at all of them as potential Pumas, not all will be making it to the next level, but we will try to get as many ready as we can. Being professional is not necessarily about getting paid but an attitude towards life,” said the former Argentina captain.

For Contepomi, the importance of the development aspect of the Americas Rugby Championship is something he stresses time and time again. “This tournament is about playing games, but also preparing for them, resting, eating and learning how to travel. I love developing players and that is our goal for this season.”

LESSONS LEARNED

In comparison with this time last year, Argentina XV are in a much better place. The number of players with Americas Rugby Championship experience runs into double figures and preparation has been good.

“Last year we played the Americas Rugby Championship, the Nations Cup, twice with Toulon and the Americas Pacific Challenge which gave us a lot of opportunities to work with players. This time, preparation for the ARC started in mid-January, and before flying to California we had a warm-up game against our Super Rugby team Jaguares," said Contepomi, who celebrated his 40th birthday last August.

The previous two games against the USA Eagles in the Americas Rugby Championship ended in stalemates, although last year’s draw in Comodoro Rivadavia hurt deeply because they conceded with the last play of the game to ultimately lose the title. The lesson was clear for all.

“The team was leading by 12 points and went through the motions for the final quarter, the USA did not give in and the draw gave them the Championship. You have to play for the full 80 minutes,” he pointed out.

In terms of mentors, Argentina’s stars of the future could not ask for more. Contepomi’s popularity and standing in the game knows no bounds, reflected by his induction into the Hall of Fame last November.

“My father was there, and he was of course very proud, but he told me that what he was proudest of was that 10 of my best mates had travelled all the way to England to be with me.”

The Americas Rugby Championship 2018 will be streamed LIVE on the World Rugby website at www.worldrugby.org/arc2018. Some geo-blocking restrictions may apply, click  here for more details.