Leinster have confirmed that Felipe Contepomi will return to the province as backs coach. The Argentine will replace Girvan Dempsey in the role. Dempsey has departed to work with English Premiership side Bath.
Speaking to the Leinster Rugby website, head coach Leo Cullen said:
We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to recruit someone we think can build on the work done over the last few seasons, and who can ultimately add to the systems and the processes we already have in place.
To be able to call on someone of Felipe’s standing, not only within this club but within the game of rugby as a whole, is a huge boost for us as we look towards the season ahead.
Felipe has spoken so passionately to me about Leinster and wanting to help the players improve so they can achieve their full potential.
The landscape and the playing group may have changed since he was last here, but the respect that people have for him hasn’t. We are all looking forward to welcoming Felipe back to Leinster Rugby.
Finally I would like to thank the UAR for their help in this matter and for facilitating Felipe’s release.
Contepomi played 116 times for Leinster between 2003 and 2009, winning a Heineken Cup in his final year at the province. He leaves a role with the Argentinian Rugby Union in making the move back to Dublin.
"The UAR gave me the opportunity to develop as a coach in recent years and have now allowed me the opportunity to face this new challenge in Leinster Rugby. I only have words of thanks for the Union," said Contepomi.
“I spent much of my playing career at Leinster and now I’ll be back in Dublin to join a great staff and to work with great players. All this is a huge motivation and it will be a great experience to continue growing as a coach.
“I also want to thank the people who worked with me over the last few years and especially, the players I had in Argentina XV, for the commitment they had and their desire to learn, because they gave me the opportunity to become a better coach and person."
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
