Pumas Legend Sanchez Announces International Retirement

· Lynn McConnell
Sanchez
High-scoring Argentina five-eighths, Nicolas Sanchez has kicked his last goal in international rugby.

Sanchez, 36, the highest Argentina points scorer in international rugby with 902 points in 104 Tests, announced his retirement on his Instagram account.

Playing in Japan for Tokyo Sungoliath, Sanchez said, "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."

It was evident during the 2024 Rugby Championship campaign, in which the Pumas beat the All Blacks 38-30 at Wellington with Santiago Carreras at first five-eighths, that the veteran's time was running out. 

Sanchez scored 151 points against the All Blacks in 18 Tests, 81 points more than any of his countrymen.


Earlier, he achieved a notable career highlight when scoring all Argentina's points in the first win over the All Blacks, a 25-15 victory, in 2020—the third highest-scoring player against New Zealand behind Morne Steyn (31 in 2009) and Christophe Lamaison (28-1999). He was also the highest points scorer with 97 at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.  

His last Test match was the third-place playoff loss to England at the 2023 World Cup in France.

While most of his overseas rugby was played in France, where he appeared for Bordeaux, Toulon, Stade Français, and Brive, he was also part of the Jaguares, playing 40 Super Rugby games between 2016 and 2018.

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