Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma has announced he is quitting his job for personal reasons.
“It’s a personal decision and it’s nobody’s fault,” the 48-year-old said at a press conference.
“It’s not because of the players or the staff, it’s just the end of a cycle. It was something I had thought about, which I had talked about with my family.
“I always felt very supported by the Argentine Union (UAR), the staff and the players. It was an amazing adventure, with many good and bad things,” he added.
The 48-year-old, who misses out on leading his country at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, rejected reports that he was leaving because of an offer from abroad.
“I have a lot of faults, but my commitment is such that today I am leaving what I love the most. No team in the world is worth more than the Pumas,” he said.
At the 2023 World Cup in France, Argentina face England, Japan, Samoa and a team from the Americas qualifying zone.
One name that has been linked to the job already is former Scotland and England boss Andy Robinson, who is currently in charge of Romania.
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LIST: Five rugby legends you didn’t realise are still coaching…
#1. Andy Robinson – Romania
The former England and Scotland boss was appointed as the new head coach of Romania in 2020.
He coached Scotland for three years from 2009, taking up the post after a successful spell in charge of Edinburgh which had also seen him work with Scotland A. He resigned in late 2012 after a defeat by Tonga in Aberdeen.
A flanker with Bath, England and the Lions, Robinson, now 56, made a smooth transition from playing to coaching at the Recreation Ground. He was assistant coach to Clive Woodward when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, then took over in 2004 before being dismissed two years later.