Exemplifying the nomadic spirit of the Pumas, the rugby wanderers, Santiago Cordero’s journey is a standout tale. Without a professional league or even a Super Rugby team to stake their claim, the Pumas’ mantra is straightforward – they are ready to travel wherever their boots might take them.
However, Santiago Cordero’s tale outshines even the most adventurous Pumas. His prowess as a winger or full-back, his remarkable footwork, acceleration and agility that shook Ireland in the 2015 World Cup, have been a game-changing factor in the Super Rugby championship, the Premiership, the Top 14, and now the URC.
While other notables such as Felipe Contepomi, Emiliano Boffelli, Agustin Creevy, Brad Thorn and James Haskell have flexed their rugby muscles in three of the four above-named leagues and had spells in Japan and Argentina, not many can equal Cordero’s resume.
Though universally known as ‘Santi’, Cordero’s fluent English helps him to recount his roving career warmly in a 45-minute chat. Cordero’s choice to base himself in Galway with Connacht at age 30, demonstrates his humility and deep-seated gratitude towards the province.
Santiago reflects fondly on his first encounter with snowy Galway at Connacht, a rare sight as the locals had informed him. A year earlier, his ACL injury had reduced him to an observer for the entire season. But now, he yearns to make up for the missed moments.
Cordero is set to kickstart the action at the Dexcom Stadium against the Sharks on Saturday evening, getting a chance to top the bill for the first time. “I am grateful to be in good shape physically and mentally. I hope to be able to participate in several games this coming season,” says Cordero.
Unexpectedly recalled to the national team by head coach Contepomi, Cordero has sharpened his game-playing skills and fitness levels, having participated in three Test matches for Argentina a year after his last cap.
For the first time ever, the Los Pumas rugby team has triumphed over the three major southern hemisphere teams in a single year. Now, they stand as the only group capable of blocking South Africa’s title bid in their looming Nelspruit showdown today, provided they seize a bonus point victory and prevent the Springboks from earning one.
Cordero, jovial, expresses appreciation for the optimistic and winner-driven attitude that Contepomi instils in the Argentinian team. He believes that the weekend victory with an additional bonus point would be fantastic. In a quest to show his devotion to Connacht, Cordero requested Contepomi for a release so he can partake in the opening URC games for Connacht.
Following his operation on September 20th of the previous year, Cordero was regaining his fitness and required only some rugby practice. This was precisely his request to Contepomi, to engage in some Connacht rugby. Looking forward to his significant home debut in the evening, he is brimming with excitement, calling the event “extraordinary.”
This anticipation is also fuelled by Connacht’s disappointing 35-33 loss to Munster the prior week. While praising his team’s overall performance, he is critical of his own showing, particularly his yellow card offence for obstructing Craig Casey in a head-to-head collision, despite leaning back upon contact. This was, distressingly, his first-ever yellow card.
Lamenting the incident, Cordero acknowledges that he didn’t want to begin the season with Connacht this way. Expressing self-doubt, he admits he wasn’t pleased with his performance and assures he can bounce back.
Cordero relocated to Galway, in search of a “fresh challenge,” having missed the World Cup. Unfortunately, he encountered the most severe injury of his sporting career during his second training session.
Initially, it was hard for me to digest the truth. Each morning I woke up, looked at my broken knee and realised the bitter reality hadn’t changed. I was apprehensive about having the surgery, considering it the most severe injury a rugby player could sustain.
Eventually, I came to terms with my situation. Certainly, I was a bit scared about what life would be like post-surgery. However, the eight months surprisingly flew by and before I knew, I was back on the field. It made me realise it wasn’t the end of the road for me.
Besides, I had my wife Bernadita and our two young children, Balthazar and Simon, to return home to each day. Their need for a second parent was a significant support to me. The ceaseless backing from everyone – the players, staff, and coaches, right from the onset was also a great boost for my mental strength.
We also feel blessed to be residing in the western part of Ireland. The city is an ideal match for me and my wife, both of whom cherish the sea. The bustling cafés and the city’s constant vibrancy keep us content and happy here.
Growing up as the son of a banker Santiago and a local school-run driving mother Carmen in San Miguel Partido on Buenos Aires’s outskirts, I always cherished the serenity. I, along with my older sister Lucia, younger sister Agostina and my younger brother Facundo, who now plays for Glasgow, spent a peaceful childhood in a quiet neighbourhood with grand houses and sprawling gardens, an hour away from the main city. Far from being a city person, I always preferred the tranquillity.
Like all the kids of my age, I initially tried my hands at football. However, scoring tries in rugby came naturally to me when I started playing it at school. That’s when I joined the local club Regatas at 12.
The turning point came when Argentina reached the 2007 World Cup semi-finals with the likes of Mario Ledesma, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Agustin Pichot, Contepomi, Juan Martín Hernández and others. That event resonated deeply with me and sparked my desire to pursue rugby.
At 17, Cordero was chosen for trials in Buenos Aires, where he spent two seasons playing 15 matches for the Argentine Under-20s. He was then included in a European tour with the Pumas in 2012, when he was just 18. By the next year, he had ascended to make his Test debut against England, finding himself on the Twickenham field just 30 minutes in due to Juan Imhoff’s injury.
“The experience was seemingly unreal, but playing in that pitch was like any other rugby match. In that ground, my focus was only on doing my best,” he reflected.
At the tender age of 21, Cordero managed to score three tries at the 2015 World Cup, an accomplishment of Los Pumas reaching the semi-finals yet again with a powerful beating of Ireland in the quarter-finals, as he set up two victories.
“It was an extraordinary World Cup. I was youthful and devoted to secure my place on the team,” he commented.
On the brink of the 2016 Super Rugby season, most of the Pumas team, including Cordero, moved on to play with the Jaguares.
“Back home, I was living with my loved ones while pursuing a professional rugby career. It’s a different experience in Europe but having the opportunity to play and work near your family is remarkable, irrespective of being Irish, Welsh, Scottish or Italian. But if I wish to do so, it’s not possible,” he delivered.
Unfortunately, the Jaguares were not part of the 2021 Super Rugby Season and were consequently disbanded. Meanwhile, Cordero was picked up as a medical joker by Exeter Chiefs in 2018.
“I chose to try a different path as it felt like the right time. Exeter presented a medical joker proposal on a Friday, and by Monday I was on my way.”
During his tenure, he completed 30 matches, scored 11 tries, and even found himself shortlisted for the Rugby Players Association player of the season in his second year.
“The way of life and the perspective of rugby there was exceptionally remarkable. I gained quite a lot,” said Cordero.
So then, what prompted his departure?
“To be frank, I didn’t have much of a choice. They contracted Stuart Hogg” he recalls, with a laugh. “Rob Baxter approached me and mentioned ‘Santi, we’d be delighted to have you stay, but due to budget constraints, we don’t want to insult you by offering anything.’”
Cordero, expressing gratitude for his transparency, stated, “I’m grateful you’ve been forthright. It’s time for me to seek other opportunities.” The luminous star of prevailing Bordeaux/Begles, Cordero, in 2019, expressed interest in the upcoming club despite the linguistic barriers he faced initially during his four-year tenure in the south-western region of France.
Cordero reminisces about Bordeaux, stating, “Everything was picture-perfect about Bordeaux. My family and I were fortunate enough to have landed in such beautiful cities during our rugby journey.” He expresses pride in their journey from Argentina, close to their home, to Exeter, to Bordeaux, and the present Connacht, in Galway.
However, only one shortcoming is the gruelling results-oriented environment of Top 14, due to which Cordero wasn’t able to excel at Los Pumas, which consequently resulted in him missing the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. He expresses, “I harbour no resentment or anger. Instead, I tend to search for the silver lining in adversity.”
Soon, Cordero was ready for a radical transformation and multiple French clubs displayed interest. He recalls, “My manager approached me with an opportunity in Connacht, Ireland for a fresh start. My first interaction with Peter [Wilkins] went off smoothly, creating an instant rapport.”
Cordero remembers his journey from Bordeaux to Galway during an uncommon snowfall in early spring last year. Despite the unexpected cold, he admired Galway and appreciated their perception of rugby.
During the first meeting, they asked if Cordero had any queries. His response was, “Yes. Will my skills and personality improve here?”
In response, they explained, “We are more process-driven here, as opposed to the result-obsessed culture at Top 14. The focus here is similar to Argentina’s approach.”
Discussing the adaptations of rugby players, Cordero said, “It’s rather extraordinary how we humans adjust to change. But I don’t foresee myself transitioning into a coaching role. It’s too nerve-wracking.”
When asked about his career highlights, one match stood out in Cordero’s memory. “The one I’ll always remember is the game against Lyons in Bordeaux, post the Covid year. My stellar performance led us to the top slot in Top 14. This match was personal and a significant victory.”
When discussing his professional career’s fluctuating progress, Cordero makes a gesture with his left hand as though illustrating waves. However, he is quick to express his aversion to brooding over past experiences. His aspiration is to prolong his sportive journey in Connacht prior to hanging his boots, with two key objectives set ahead. Capturing a championship is his first desire. He admits that a trophy has already been secured but aspires to transform Connacht into a formidable rugby team that instills fear in opponents. In his words, ‘when others have to face Connacht, they should anticipate a tough time.’ Before he retires from rugby, Cordero wants to bask in that sentiment and aims to raise the reputation of Connacht to an enviable peak.