Julián Montoya (born 29 October 1993) is an Argentine professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and captains the Argentina national team.[2]

Julián Montoya
Montoya representing Argentina during the November Internationals
Date of birth (1993-10-29) 29 October 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthBuenos Aires, Argentina
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)[1]
SchoolColegio Cardenal Newman
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2014 Club Newman 7 (0)
2014–2015 Pampas XV 17 (5)
2016–2020 Jaguares 63 (25)
2021– Leicester Tigers 63 (145)
Correct as of 15 December 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Argentina U20 5 (0)
2014– Argentina 95 (55)
Correct as of 21 April 2024

Club career

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In June 2020 there was speculation that Montoya had agreed to join Leicester Tigers for the 2021-22 Premiership Rugby season,[3] but the move was eventually confirmed as an immediate transfer on 20 January 2021.[4] He started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15-12.[5]

International career

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Montoya played for Argentina national under-20 rugby union team at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He later would also play for Argentina Jaguars. He had his first cap for Argentina at the 65–9 win over Uruguay, at 17 May 2014, for the South American Rugby Championship, in Paysandu, Uruguay. He played for the Argentina squad that won the competition in 2014 and 2015, twice in each of them, with a try scored on both occasions. He was called for the 2015 Rugby Championship, playing his first game at the tournament in the 39–18 loss to New Zealand, on 17 July 2015, in Christchurch. He has 8 caps for the "Pumas", with 2 tries scored, 10 points on aggregate.[6][7]

Montoya was a starter for the Argentina national team on 14 November 2020 in their first ever win against the All Blacks.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Julián Montoya player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Tigers add Argentine hooker to front row". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Julian Montoya: Leicester Tigers set to sign Argentina hooker for 2021-22". BBC Sport. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Confirmed: Julian Montoya joins Leicester with immediate effect". rugbypass. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  6. ^ Julián Montoya at UAR Official Website (Spanish)
  7. ^ Julián Montoya Statistics
  8. ^ "Argentina (16) 25 - 15 (3) New Zealand (FT)". ESPN. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
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