Juan Martín Hernández

Juan Martín Hernández
Personal information
Full nameJuan Martín Hernández
NicknameEl Mago (The Magician)
The Maradona of Rugby
Born7 August 1982
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
RelativesPatricio Hernández (uncle)
María de la Paz "Maripi" Hernández (sister)
Club information
Playing positionFly-Half / Centre / Fullback
Current clubToulon
Amateur team(s)
Deportiva Francesa()
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2003–09Stade Français123(589)
2009Natal Sharks9(60)
2010–14Racing Métro75(146)
2015–Toulon3(9)
Representative team(s)‡
1999–2001Argentina U19()
2000–02Argentina U21()
2002Pumas Sevens2()
2007 & 2007Argentina A()
2003–Argentina52(133)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 30 January 2015.

† Appearances (Points).

‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 23 November 2014.

Juan Martín Hernández (born August 7, 1982 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union player. A mainstay of the Argentina national team, he currently plays for the club Toulon in the French Top 14 competition. His 2010 move to Racing brought him back to the city where he had begun his professional career in 2003 with Stade Français. He has also played in the South African Currie Cup with the Natal Sharks, and was slated to play with the Sharks in Super Rugby in 2010, but suffered a back injury that knocked him out of the Super Rugby season.[1] Hernández is a "utility back" capable of playing at fly-half, centre, or fullback, though he generally prefers fly-half.

Hernández made his test debut for Los Pumas against Paraguay on April 2003. Since then he has earned almost 50 caps for his national team.

His uncle Patricio Hernández[2] was part of the Argentine football squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

His sister María de la Paz "Maripi" Hernández,[3] won a silver medal with the Argentina hockey team at the 2000 Summer Olympics and bronze medals at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

Career

Club

Hernández began his rugby career at the amateur club Deportiva Francesa in Buenos Aires. In 2003, he moved to Paris to play professionally for Stade Français, one of the top clubs in France and Europe. He saw considerable success with Stade Français; winning the domestic championship in 2004, as well as being runners-up in the domestic championship and the European Heineken Cup in 2005. In 2006, he was named fullback of the year. This award has coincided with many commentators naming Hernández as the world's best fullback.[4][5][6]

On 27 July 2009, Hernández signed with South Africa's Natal Rugby Union, operator of the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup and the Sharks in the Super 14, on a one-year contract. He took on a coaching role at the club's academy, helping young players at grass roots level.[7]

In December 2009, the French rugby magazine Midi Olympique reported that Hernández had signed a deal with Paris' other Top 14 club, Racing Métro, and would return to France after the 2010 Super 14 season.[8]

In early January 2010, it was announced that Hernández would be sidelined for at least 6 months following a back operation. He thus played no part in the Sharks 2010 Super 14 campaign.[1]

International

Hernández made his debut for Argentina against Paraguay on 27 April 2003. Appearing in the starting line up, he helped the Pumas to a 144-0 victory. Following a further five Tests for Argentina in May, June and August 2003, Hernández was included in Argentina's squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He came on in the opening game of the tournament against the Wallabies, as well as starting in the games against Namibia and Romania.

Following the 2003 World Cup, Hernández next played for Argentina in November 2004, starting against France, Ireland and the Springboks. He earned another three Test caps on the November tour the following season. He was then capped twice against Wales and once against the All Blacks.

Hernández was unexpectedly picked at outside half for the opening game of the 2007 Rugby World Cup against France on 7 September 2007. His scintillating form, particularly with the boot, kept him as first choice in that position during Argentina's run to the semi-finals, and he subsequently scored three drop goals in the pool match with Ireland and another in the quarter final victory over Scotland.

Hernández was nominated by the IRB as one of the five candidates for the 2007 International Player of the Year award, which was won by Bryan Habana.

Before the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Hernández was named on a list of candidates for the greatest fly half in Rugby World Cup history.[9]

The Pumas wouldn't need to delay long to battle their southern hemisphere competitors while they were contained in the Tri-Places for that start of the 2012 Rugby Title. After a remarkable time for Rushing Neighborhood, Hernandez was back to his greatest and appeared set-to enjoy a key position in the contest for that Pumas.

Statistics

Tests

Tours

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hernandez Out" (Press release). Sharks Rugby. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  2. ↑ Clarín article
  3. ↑ Rugby Heaven article
  4. ↑ Bech, Duncan (3 September 2007). "Rugby: Hernandez ready to explode on world stage". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Daily Mail article
  6. ↑ Daily Telegraph article
  7. ↑ "Hernandez signs for Natal Sharks". BBC Sport. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
  8. ↑ "Hernandez prend le Metro" (in French). Midi Olympique. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  9. ↑ "Is Juan Martín Hernández the greatest flyhalf in the history of the Rugby World Cup?". 7 September 2011.

External links