Federico Méndez

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Federico Méndez


caption =
birthname =
nickname =
dateofbirth=birth date and age|1972|8|2
placeofbirth = Mendoza, Argentina
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.83
weight = convert|108|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = hooker|capital=yes
ru_currentposition= Head Coach
ru_currentteam= Mendoza RC
ru_coachyears= 2005-present
ru_coachclubs= Mendoza RC
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Argentina
ru_nationalyears = 1990-2004
ru_nationalcaps = 74
ru_nationalpoints = (70)
ru_ntupdate = 26 September 2007
ru_clubyears = ????-1996 1996 1997-1998 1999-2000 2000-2001 2002 2002-2005 2005
ru_proclubs = Mendoza RC Natal Sharks Bath Northampton Bordeaux-Bègles Natal Sharks Mendoza RC Western Province
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate = 26 September 2007
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
ru_sevensupdate =
other =
occupation =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university =

Federico Mendez (2 August 1972, Mendoza), also known as Freddie Mendez is an Argentine rugby union footballer.

Méndez played professional rugby in South Africa, England and France. He also played for Mendoza Rugby Club in Argentina and won 74 caps for the Argentina national rugby union team, including appearances at four Rugby World Cups, in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003.

Biography

Playing career

Méndez started his career with Mendoza RC in his hometown; he made his Argentina debut as a teenager, and was sent off in a match against England for a punch on English lock Paul Ackford in 1990.

Méndez played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup and later played for Natal Sharks in South Africa.

He played for Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints in England. He won the Heineken Cup in 1998 with Bath and then in 2000 with Northampton, thus becoming the first player to win the trophy twice.

Méndez then has a spell in France with Bordeaux-Bègles and a second spell with Natal Sharks before returning to Argentina to play for Mendoza RC.

Coaching career

Méndez announced his retirement from rugby in 2005, but returned to the game later that year for a brief spell as player-coach at Western Province in South Africa. He then went on to coach at his beloved Mendoza RC.

He recently turned down the position of scrum coach for the South African Springboks. He said he could not live with himself if he helped the Boks beat the Argentinian Pumas.

Méndez is currently on the panel of judges for the annual IRB Awards.

External links

* [http://www.rwc2003.irb.com/EN/Tournament/Teams/Argentina/Players/Federico+Mendez/index.htm RWC 2003 profile]