Ramiro Pez (born 6 December 1978 in Córdoba, Argentina) is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer who normally plays at fly-half. In 2008-09, he joined the newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon, having been signed from Venezia Mestre in the Italian Super 10 competition.

Ramiro Pez
Birth nameRamiro Pez
Date of birth (1978-12-06) 6 December 1978 (age 45)
Place of birthCórdoba, Argentina
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005
2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-
La Tablada
Rugby Roma
Rotherham Titans
Leicester Tigers
Rotherham Titans
Bath Rugby
Castres Olympique
USA Perpignan
Bayonne
Venezia Mestre
Toulon
La Tablada

19
46
13
12
1
1
11
7
7
7

(122)
(557)
(100)
(131)
(0)
(0)
(61)
(41)
(46)
(25)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000-2007 Italy 40 (260)

He made his international debut with the Italian national team on 8 July 2000, in a match against Samoa in Apia, scoring 9 points in the game.

Pez played with the National team both with Brad Johnstone and John Kirwan, but he did not take part to the 2003 World Cup. Back with the Italian team for the 2005 tour in Australia and Argentina, Ramiro Pez gave his fundamental contribution for the first Italian win against Argentina (30-29).

Pez played for La Tablada in his hometown of Córdoba. The club won the title in November 2000, scoring all his teams' points in a 23-22 victory over Duendes Rosario. He went on to join Italian club Rugby Roma. He scored 122 points and 6 tries in 19 Serie A appearances. This included an Italian Championship final win over L’Aquila in Rome in June 2000. He scored 20 points in the final. He then joined Rotherham club for the 2001-02 season and was their top points scorer with 202 points, as they won the National Division One title. It was here where he enjoyed some of his best years, breaking into the Italy team and gaining national and international acclaim.

He spent the 2003-04 season with the Leicester Tigers. After playing with Bath he joined French side USA Perpignan. He played 13 matches that season with the Tigers, scoring 100 points for the club.

After a poor 2008/09 season at Toulon he was released to make way for the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi. He has since moved back to Argentina to play for his home side La Tablada.

Personal life

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Pez is of Italian descent through great-grandparents from Rome and Udine.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "La oportunidad fuera de casa". LA NACION. 15 July 2001.
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