Agustín Pichot

Agustín Pichot (born 22 August, 1974 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union player, the former captain of the Argentine team and past captain of his former team Bristol Rugby. Currently with Racing Métro 92 Paris, he played several years with Bristol Rugby of the English League and current Top 14 champions Stade Français after leaving Argentine team CASI from San Isidro in 1997.

Career

Pichot made his debut for Los Pumas in April 1995 during the Pumas' tour to Australia, scoring a try in the first Test in Brisbane. Pichot was capped another three times that year for the Pumas; playing in Tests against Romania, Italy and France during October. The following year he was capped another three times for Argentina, playing two Tests against France and one against Uruguay in June, scoring a try in the match against Uruguay. In October/November of the next year he earned another four Test caps, playing in matches against Italy, France and the Wallabies, scoring a try in the second of two matches against the Wallabies. He moved from CASI to Richmond where he played alongside a legend of the game Richard Mclennan in the 1997-98 season, and would later switch to Bristol.

Pichot would be capped six times during the 1998 international season, including playing France three times, as well as playing matches against Italy, Romania and Wales, scoring tries in the games against Wales and Romania. In the lead up to the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales Pichot played two Tests against the hosts in June, and Tests against Scotland and Ireland that August, scoring a try in the Test against Ireland. He played five matches during the World Cup, and helped the Pumas reach the quarter-finals. Argentina played France in their quarter-final, which France won 26-47, Pichot being one of Argentina's try scorers in the match.

After the World Cup Pichot captained Argentina for the first time in a Test against Ireland in June 2000, which Argentina won 34 points to 23. He was also capped another four times that year, playing two games against World Champions Australia and then matches against South Africa and England in November. He earned eight Test caps during 2001, and captained Argentina on three more occasions, in matches against Uruguay, the United States and Canada in May. He played six Tests the following year, captaining the Pumas during two of them (June Tests against England and South Africa).

Pichot then moved to Paris club Stade Français in 2003. He played two Tests during August 2003, including captaining the Pumas against Uruguay. He was named captain for the opening match of the 2003 Rugby World Cup against hosts Australia. The Wallabies won the match 24 to eight. He also scored tries in the pool matches against Uruguay and Canada. He then captained the team in the last pool game against Ireland, which they lost 15 to 16. He was named to Argentina's 2007 Rugby World Cup squad, which he captained successfully to a 3rd place showing in the World Cup, after a second win in the 2007 Rugby World Cup against France in the 3rd/4th place playoff.

Pichot was the first foreign captain of a French team that won the French championship in 2007

Honours

• In 1995 he received the Olimpia Award for rugby.
• In 1998 He received Best Rugby Player.
• In 1999 He received Sportman Clarín of the year.
• In 2000 Pichot received the Platinum Konex Award for Rugby.
• In 2000 he again received the Olimpia.
• In 2001 He received Best Rugby player.
• In 2000/01 and 2002/03 he was voted Supporter's Player of the Season at Bristol Rugby.

Achievements

• 63 tests with the Pumas
• Finals of the European Cup 2004/05
• Finals of the French Championship 2005 (Championnat de France de rugby)
• Finals of the English Cup 2001
• 5th position in 1999 Rugby World Cup
• 3rd position in 2007 Rugby World Cup
• Captain and 3 position in 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens
• Argentine Provincial Champion with Buenos Aires 1996
• Argentine National Club Champion with CASI
• Sevens National Champion with Buenos Aires 1994/1995
• Most selected Argentine player for the Barbarians

Trivia

• Pichòt means "little" in Occitan.

External links

• Official site
• Official Argentina profile
• Stade Français profile
• Player profile and stat
• Player profile and stat
• Pichot at Bristol
• BBC short article
• Konex Foundation
• Pichot, The Player
• RWC 1999 profile
• RWC 2003 profile