Felipe Contepomi has confirmed that he is leaving Leinster at the end of the summer to join Michael Cheika's new Argentina coaching set-up.
Contepomi, 44, had been linked with the move for several months and admits it will be a "proud" moment for him to return to the Pumas fold, where he had a distinguished career as a Test player, and a "brilliant opportunity".
This will be the former backline star's second time to depart Leinster, having joined the club in 2003 and played on 116 occasions, winning a Celtic League and the Heineken Cup.
He returned to the Blues ahead of the 2018-19 season and, as backs coach, has helped to guide the province to three PRO14 titles as well as into two Heineken Champions Cup finals - the latest to take place in Marseille against La Rochelle on Saturday week.
"This is a brilliant opportunity for me and for my family to return home but I would like to say how thankful I am to Leo Cullen and to Leinster Rugby for the opportunity to come back to Leinster and to Dublin over the last few years," said Contepomi.
“It was an easy decision to come back to the club and I have loved every minute of my time here working with Leo and all the coaches and backroom team.
"Of course, I would also like to thank all the players that I have had the privilege and the pleasure to work with. My time as a coach has only added to the warmth and the love I have for the club from my time here as a player.
“While there have been great moments on the field, it is the memories and the friendships made off the field that I will take with me.
“There is still of course a huge end to the season to come and I hope to finish the season strong before heading home.
“This is a proud moment for me and for my family. The opportunity and the challenge presented by Michael Cheika and the UAR is one that excites me and I very much look forward to continuing my coaching journey back home. To be able to coach your country is special.
"There is no higher honour as a coach and I look forward to getting started in due course.
“Dublin and Leinster have been very good to me as a player and as a coach, and I will forever be grateful for all that we have achieved together.
“But the time is right for me now to return home and I will leave with nothing but fond memories of a great club, great supporters and my home away from home.”
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen reacted: “It’s been a privilege for everyone at Leinster Rugby to have had the opportunity to work with Felipe over the last four seasons. He is a great character to have around and has made a huge contribution to so many areas of the club.
“We were all excited at the thought of ‘getting Felipe back’ to coach the group and he has definitely lived up to our hopes. He is a great tactician, and I am sure he will go on to enjoy an outstanding coaching career.
“Of course, we will miss Felipe but everyone understands the opportunity to return to Argentina to take up an exciting new role, plus the draw of being closer to family.
"This day was always likely to come but for me, the memories are only good ones as we celebrate the successes we have shared. Hopefully, we can add to those by finishing this season as strongly as possible.
“On behalf of everyone at Leinster, I would like to wish Felipe, Sofia and the rest of the Contepomi family all the best for the future.
"They will always have the warmest of welcomes here in Dublin and who knows, maybe there will be a ‘third coming’ down the line!”.
