 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Birth name | Federico Eduardo Méndez Azpillaga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1972-08-02)2 August 1972 (age 52) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mendoza,Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (17 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federico Eduardo Méndez Azpillaga (born 2 August 1972) is anArgentinerugby union footballer.Méndez played professional rugby in South Africa, England and France. He also played forMendoza Rugby Club in Argentina and won 74 caps for theArgentina national rugby union team, including appearances at fourRugby World Cups, in1991,1995 and2003. Mendez was considered the best hooker at the 1995 World Cup and had the unique ability to play hooker, loosehead or tighthead.
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 againstEngland for a punch on English lockPaul Ackford in 1990.
Méndez played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup and later played forSharks inSouth Africa winning theCurrie Cup in 1996.
He played forBath Rugby andNorthampton Saints in England. He won theHeineken Cup in 1998 with Bath (as a replacement)[1] and then in 2000 with Northampton,[2] thus becoming the first player to win the trophy twice. Mendez also won the player of the season award forNorthampton Saints in the 1998–99 season.
Méndez then had a spell in France withBordeaux-Bègles and a second spell with Sharks before returning to Argentina to play for Mendoza RC.
Méndez announced his retirement from rugby in 2005, but returned to the game later that year for a brief spell as player-coach atWestern Province in South Africa. He then went on to coach at his beloved Mendoza RC.
He recently turned down the position ofscrum 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 annualIRB Awards.