Juan Martín Hernández

Juan Martín Hernández (born 7 August 1982) is an Argentine retired rugby union player. A mainstay of the Argentina national team The Pumas. He played 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 , 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. 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 in April 2003. Since then he has accumulated over 50 caps for his national team. He retired in April 2018 following a knee injury.

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

His sister María de la Paz Hernández, won the silver medal with the Argentina field hockey team at the 2000 Summer Olympics, bronze medals at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics and the World Cup in 2002.

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.

On 27 July 2009, Hernández signed with South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, operator of the 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.

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.

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.

Hernández was part of the national squad that competes in the Rugby Championship.

He was part of the national squad that competed at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Statistics

Tests 2009: 6/6 vs. England; 13/6 vs. England 2008: 28/6 vs. Italy; 8/11 vs. France; 15/8 vs. Italy 2007 (all Rugby World Cup): 7/9 vs. France, 11/9 vs. Georgia; 30/9 vs. Ireland; 7/10 vs. Scotland (QF); 14/10 vs. South Africa (SF); 19/10 vs. France (3rd place) 2006: 17/6 vs. Wales; 24/6 vs. New Zealand; 11/11 vs. England; 18/11 vs. Italy; 25/11 vs. France (1 try) 2005: 5/11 vs. South Africa; 12/11 vs. Scotland]; 19/11 vs. Italy 2004: 20/11: vs. France; 27/11: vs. Ireland; 4/12: vs. South Africa 2003: 27/4: vs. Paraguay; 3/5: vs. Uruguay; 14/6: vs. France; 20/6: vs. France (1 try); 28/6: vs. South Africa (1 try); 30/8 vs. Canada. Rugby World Cup: 10/10: vs. Australia; 14/10: vs. Namibia; 22/10: vs. Romania (2 tries)

Tours 2009: England (first June Test, originally scheduled for Argentina but moved by the national federation to Old Trafford) 2008: Italy & France 2007: England (vs Northampton and Leicester) 2006: England, Italy & France 2005: Scotland & Italy 2004: France & Ireland 2003: South Africa - Australia Rugby World Cup 2002: Italy & Ireland

Honours Stade Français Top 14: 2003–04, 2006–07