Mario Ledesma
Encyclopedia
Mario Ledesma Arocena is an Argentine
rugby union
footballer. He currently plays for the French club ASM Clermont Auvergne
in the Top 14 competition. He also previously played for another French club, Castres Olympique
, Narbonne and Curupaytí club in Argentina. Ledesma has also played for the Argentina national team
, including being a part of their 1999
, 2003
, 2007
and 2011
squads. His usual position is at hooker.
in 1996. He played one other match in 1996, against Canada. He then became a regular in the Argentina team, and even captaining them against Japan in September 1998. He played numerous games during the 1999 World Cup in Wales
.
He won over 10 caps in the build up to the 2003 World Cup in Australia, where he played in numerous games, including the tournament opener against the Wallabies at Telstra Stadium
, Sydney
. He went on the November tours in both 2004 and 2005, and was a part of the team that defeated Wales in the home Test series during June 2006.
Ledesma is one of many unsung and underrated Argentinian professional rugby players. Through much of the millennium decade and into Argentina's impressive 2007 RWC, he was considered one of the world's top hookers for his workrate, mobility, lineout throwing and pivotal set-piece leadership.
At the 2011 World Cup
, Ledesma was one of the leaders of Los Pumas' pack. At the Pool stages, Argentina came 2nd, losing only to England. The Daily Telegraph
considered Ledesma as one of the best in his position at the 2011 World Cup
.
On 9 October 2011, Mario played his last game on a Pumas jersey, against the New Zealand All Blacks
, in what was Argentina's elimination from the World Cup.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He currently plays for the French club ASM Clermont Auvergne
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
in the Top 14 competition. He also previously played for another French club, Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906...
, Narbonne and Curupaytí club in Argentina. Ledesma has also played for the Argentina national team
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
, including being a part of their 1999
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
, 2003
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, 2007
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
and 2011
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
squads. His usual position is at hooker.
Career
Ledesma was an under-19 and student international for Argentina during the early years of his career. He made his international debut against UruguayUruguay national rugby union team
The Uruguay national rugby union team is the representative side of Uruguay, governed by the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay. They have been playing international rugby since 1948. Their jersey is blue and black and they are known as Los Teros. They qualified twice for the Rugby World Cup, in 1999 and...
in 1996. He played one other match in 1996, against Canada. He then became a regular in the Argentina team, and even captaining them against Japan in September 1998. He played numerous games during the 1999 World Cup in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
He won over 10 caps in the build up to the 2003 World Cup in Australia, where he played in numerous games, including the tournament opener against the Wallabies at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He went on the November tours in both 2004 and 2005, and was a part of the team that defeated Wales in the home Test series during June 2006.
Ledesma is one of many unsung and underrated Argentinian professional rugby players. Through much of the millennium decade and into Argentina's impressive 2007 RWC, he was considered one of the world's top hookers for his workrate, mobility, lineout throwing and pivotal set-piece leadership.
At the 2011 World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
, Ledesma was one of the leaders of Los Pumas' pack. At the Pool stages, Argentina came 2nd, losing only to England. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
considered Ledesma as one of the best in his position at the 2011 World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.
On 9 October 2011, Mario played his last game on a Pumas jersey, against the New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, in what was Argentina's elimination from the World Cup.
Family
Ledesma comes from a sporting family. His younger brother Pedro Ledesma recently signed with the French club Stade Français.External links
- Mario Ledesma at Unión Argentina de Rugby
- Mario Ledesma on ercrugby.com
- 1999 RWC profile