Federico Nicolás Sánchez, born on October 26, 1988, is an Argentine rugby union player known for his skills as a fly-half. He currently plays for CA Brive in the Top 14 league in France. Sánchez has had a successful career at both club and international levels.
Sánchez began his professional rugby journey playing for Pampas XV in the 2011 Vodacom Cup in South Africa, where his team emerged as champions. He then made a move to Bordeaux in the Top 14 league, playing for them from 2011/12 to 2013/14. Following his time at Bordeaux, Sánchez joined RC Toulonnais in 2014, where he played until 2015.
His international career has been highly impressive, representing Argentina with distinction. Sánchez has earned 74 caps for the national team since his debut on May 21, 2010, in a match against Uruguay. He holds the record as the highest point scorer for the Pumas, accumulating 709 points in total. His scoring record includes 11 tries, 99 conversions, 140 penalties, and 12 drop goals.
Sánchez's notable achievements include his performance in the 2020 Tri Nations Series match against New Zealand, where he scored all 25 of Argentina's points, leading them to their first-ever victory over the All Blacks. He became the third highest-scoring player in a single match against New Zealand, following Morné Steyn's 31 points in 2009 and Christophe Lamaison's 28 points in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
He has been a key player for Argentina in major tournaments such as the Rugby Championship, where he has showcased his skills in 16 games. In the 2014 edition of the tournament, Sánchez emerged as the top scorer with 54 points. He also participated in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, finishing as the top point scorer with 97 points and the second-highest number of penalties scored.
In September 2018, Sánchez surpassed Felipe Contepomi as Argentina's highest-scoring player in history, reaching a total of 655 points from 68 tests. He has represented Argentina in various international competitions and has proven himself as a reliable playmaker with a balanced running and kicking game.
At the club level, Sánchez joined the Jaguares, the Argentinian Super Rugby franchise, for the 2016 season. He made a total of 51 appearances for the team before moving to Stade Francais in the Top 14 league in January 2019. After his stint with Stade Francais, he signed a new contract with CA Brive in September 2020.
Federico Nicolás Sánchez's talent, accuracy as a placekicker, and ability to control the game make him a highly respected player in world rugby. His contributions to Argentina's national team and his performances for his club sides have solidified his reputation as one of the best fly-halves in the game.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Sanchez has been named in the squad for Argentina.
KG(12/07/2023)
Career
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Tokyo Sungoliath Fullback |
2024 - present |
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Union Bordeaux Begles Fly Half |
2011 - 2014 |
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RC Toulon Fly Half |
2014 - 2015 |
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Jaguares Fly Half |
2015 - 2018 |
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Stade Francais Fly Half |
2018 - 2023 |
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Brive Fly Half |
2022 - 2023 |
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Argentina Fly Half |
2010 - 2024 |
