News | Rugby
31 Jan 2026 9:12
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  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    Argentina rugby coach Mario Ledesma has shared some memories of his encounters with the late Diego Maradona as they prepare to use his legacy as motivation in the re-match against the All Blacks tomorrow in Newcastle

    Argentina rugby coach Mario Ledesma has shared some memories of his encounters with the late Diego Maradona as they prepare to use his legacy as motivation in the re-match against the All Blacks tomorrow in Newcastle


    The footballer made a post-match visit to the Pumas dressing room after the loss to the All Blacks in 2001.

    Ledesma also remembers what happened when the crowd realised Maradona was in attendance at the match.



    The Argentinian public will formally bid farewell to the football talisman next Thursday.

    He will lie in state at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in the meantime, where crowds are expected to visit his casket as part of three days' national mourning.



    And the mayor of Naples has started the process to rename the San Paolo stadium in honour of Maradona, who took them to the top of Italian football.

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Rugby News
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     29 Jan: Ireland's Auckland-born midfielder Bundee Aki will sit out half of Ireland's Six Nations rugby campaign over referee abuse
     29 Jan: All Blacks are returning to Super Rugby franchises while the hunt for a new national coach remains the talking point
     28 Jan: All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard is adamant the axing of Scott Robertson will not cause further fallout once they're in camp later in the year
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