Juan Martín Hernández

At 41 years old, Juan Martín Hernández has this physical status:

Juan Martín Hernández (born August 7, 1982 in Buenos Aires) is a retired Argentine 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 Sharks, 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 on April 2003.

Since then he has accumulated over 50 caps for his national team.

He retired in April 2018 following a knee injury.

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Career

Hernández debuted in rugby at Deportiva Francesa in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2003, he relocated to Paris to play for Stade Français, one of France's top clubs. He had a lot of success with Stade Français in 2004, as well as being runners-up in the domestic championship and the European Heineken Cup in 2005. He was named fullback of the year in 2006 during the year's grand opening. Many commentators have named Hernández as the best fullback in the world.

Hernández joined KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, the franchise's operator of the Sharks in the Currie Cup and the Sharks in the Super 14 on a one-year deal, on July 27, 2009. He took up a coaching role at the club's academy, aiding young players at the grass roots level.

Hernández had signed a football scholarship with Montpellier's other Top 14 team, Racing Métro, in December 2009, and will return to France after the 2010 Super 14 season.

Following a back surgery, Hernández's return to the hospital was expected in early January 2010. He also did not participate in the 2010 Sharks Super 14 campaign.

On the 27th of April 2003, Hernández made his Argentina debut against Paraguay. He aided the Pumas to a 144–0 victory despite being in the starting lineup. Hernández was included in Argentina's squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup after a further five Tests for Argentina in May, June, and August 2003. He appeared in the tournament's first game against the Wallabies, as well as playing in the tournament's games against Namibia and Romania.

Hernández returned to Argentina in November 2004, against France, Ireland, and the Springboks following the 2003 World Cup. The following season, he earned three Test caps on the November tour. He was then capped twice against Wales and once against the All Blacks.

On September 7, 2007, Hernández was surprisingly selected outside the top half of the 2007 Rugby World Cup against France. His commanding form, especially with the boot, made him the first pick in Argentina's semi-finals, and he scored three drop goals in the pool match against Ireland and another against Scotland in the quarter finals.

The IRB nominated Hernández as one of the five contenders for the 2007 International Player of the Year award, which was won by Bryan Habana.

Hernández was chosen on a list of contenders for the best fly half in Rugby World Cup history before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

When the Pumas were included in the Tri-Places for the 2012 Rugby Championship, they would not have to wait long to face their southern hemisphere opponents. Hernandez was back to his best in Rushing Neighborhood and seemed to be in a prime position in the competition for the Pumas after a dramatic run.

Hernández was a member of the national team that competes in the Rugby Championship.

He was a member of the national team that qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

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