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Rugby Union

Tigers ready to pounce for Pumas coach

12/02/2007

Leicester Tigers are set to offer the head coaching job at Welford Road to current Argentina boss Marcelo Loffreda, according to media reports.

Outgoing supremo Pat Howard is set to quit the Premiership club at the end of the season in order to return to his native Australia and the 47-year-old Pumas coach is being linked to the vacancy.

Last week Loffreda confirmed that he has "had talks with officials in Leicester" but stopped short of giving any suggestion of whether he would accept or reject the offer that is rumoured to have been made to him.

"It is a possibility," he revealed, adding that any decision would be made after consulting with his family.

"I'm very proud for the job to be linked to me because it is recognition for Argentine rugby."

Leicester chairman Peter Tom confirmed in an interview on BBC Radio Leicester last year that there were "three preferred candidates", hinting that South Africa coach Jake White and Australia assistant coach Scott Johnson were two of the three.

It now seems Loffreda is the third name in the hat, a rumour that is given extra credence by Tom's comments that the club would be prepared to wait until after the World Cup to make an appointment, if necessary.

"If we decide that a certain individual will make the difference that we want to achieve and we have to wait a little while for them to come, then that is what we will have to do," he said.

Loffreda masterminded a famous 25-18 victory over England at Twickenham during the autumn internationals, which condemned the home side to a record seventh successive Test match defeat.

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