Mario Ledesma named new Argentina coach

Argentina have today named their new coach, with former Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma succeeding Daniel Hourcade, who resigned last month after a string of losses.

Ledesma took charge of the Jaguares this season and transformed them from a moderately successful side into quarter-finalists before losing to the Lions in South Africa. 

Hourcade, who guided Argentina to the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-finals in England, quit after a heavy loss to the Scots in a one-off Test.

"We (with his assistants) think that the message is no longer getting through to the team, we have reached the end of a cycle," Hourcade told the ARU website.

"The assistant coaches and I assume the responsibility of making this decision having already mentioned the possibility before the June Tests."

Ledesma also played for the Argentina national team, including being a part of their 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 squads. He was appointed as the forwards coach at Stade Français for the 2011-12 season before joining Montpellier in 2012 where he held the same position until November 2014.

At the start of the 2015 Super Rugby season, Mario joined the Waratahs as coach observer before becoming the forwards and set-piece coach for the Wallabies.

Since finishing fourth at the last Rugby World Cup, the Pumas have won six Tests and lost 22, including all six in the four-nation Rugby Championship last season.

#MarioLedesma
"Hoy, ser el capitán del barco me llena de orgullo. No es una presión ni es algo que me intimide. Es un vértigo muy lindo. Y hasta, culturalmente. Estamos en un momento importante para ser responsable, planificar, laburar ... Estamos ante un desafío enorme".

— UnionArgentinaRugby (@unionargentina) August 1, 2018

"La expectativa es competir para ganar todos los encuentros. Generar competitividad que nos permita estar en siempre en partido".

Mario Ledesma, #HeadCoachDeLosPumas #JugamosTodos

— UnionArgentinaRugby (@unionargentina) August 1, 2018