Rugby Retirement

Argentina's record points scorer Sánchez retires from rugby

Nicolás Sánchez leaves behind record legacy of 902 points scored in 104 tests for the Pumas.

Argentina's fly-half Nicolás Sánchez celebrates after scoring a try in the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Wales and Argentina at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France, on October 14, 2023. Foto: AFP/CHRISTOPHE SIMON

Argentina international fly-half Nicolás Sánchez, who holds the record for most points scored in a Pumas shirt, has announced his retirement from the game on his Instagram account. 

Between 2010-2023, Sánchez scored a record 902 points in 104 tests for the Pumas, including 97 at the 2015 World Cup where he was top points scorer. 

"After many years of dedication, effort and passion, I have decided to retire from rugby, a sport that has shaped me as a player and as a person," said the 36-year-old who closes his career at Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.

Born and bred in Tucumán, Sánchez scored all the points in the historic victory over New Zealand (25-15) in November 2020, the first in Argentina's history. 

His last cap came in the third-place play-off at the 2023 World Cup, which he lost to England. 

"We're going to miss you, Nico," said the Pumas account on X. 

Sánchez played three seasons of Super Rugby with Jaguares but most of his club rugby was in France where he turned out for Bordeaux-Bègles, Toulon, Stade Français and Brive. 


— Times/AFP

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