Enrique Rodríguez (rugby union)

Enrique 'Topo' Rodríguez is an Argentina-born Australian former rugby union player, who today is Co-Founder & Managing Director of the AABC (Australian-Argentine Business Council Limited), impresario, professional key note speaker, mental health management advocate & adviser, freelance writer and blogger.

Enrique Rodríguez
Birth nameEnrique Edgardo Rodriguez
Date of birth (1952-06-20) 20 June 1952
Place of birthConcordia, Argentina
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop/Hooker
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1979-1983
1984-1987
1981
1980		  Argentina
 Australia
 Tahiti
Jaguars		 13
26
1
4		 (4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

Rodriguez retired from rugby union after having played at international level for Argentina, Tahiti and Australia. He was part of the Wallaby team in the 1984 Grand Slam tour of Great Britain & Ireland. He also represented the Wallabies at the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup hosted by Australia & New Zealand; and captained Australia vs Mendoza Province in Argentina just before retiring from international rugby in November 1987. He was also selected for the South American Jaguars in 1980, gaining four Test caps vs the South African Springboks.

Rodríguez played tighthead prop, loosehead prop and hooker He was known for his hard play, excellent scrummaging technique and superlative physical and mental preparation. His biggest claim of fame is to have been an integral part of four spectacular pushover tries: 1980 (vs Springboks); 1983 (2 pushover tries vs Australia in Ballymore); and Australia vs Wales in 1984 at Cardiff Arms Park.

After retiring from rugby in 1987, Rodriguez was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder type II. A play called Topo by Neil Cole, was shown at the Seymour Theatre Centre, Sydney in May–June 2007, describing the "highs and lows of life" including his experiences of living with mental illness.[1]

In August 2012 Rodriguez self-published a book called "The Art of Scrummaging", which amongst his knowledge and philosophies on the subject of 'Scrummaging'it also presents the opinions of 38 collaborators (ex-international players, coaches and referees). It was awarded the IPP Gold Medal for authoring and publishing. In 2015, Rodriguez published an updated version including law changes introduced by the International Rugby Board regarding the 'engagement' sequence of the scrum. This was titled: Rugby-The Art of Scrummaging II.

He is nicknamed Topo - the Spanish word for "mole".

Today (2019) Rodriguez, Executive Chairman ERC Consulting is fully dedicated to pursuing various interests such as: a) Bilateral Exchanges between Australia and Argentina; b) MHMP ("Mental Health Management Plans for the Farmers and the Miners" (bipolareducationfoundation.net); RugbyLeaders.com and "ARSA Worldwide" (Safety, Prevention and Performance for All Sports) currently under development.

Early life

Rodríguez was born in Concordia, Argentina on 20 June 1952. He studied Psychology at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. He started playing rugby for the University team in 1971. Rodríguez initially played wing, centre, and five-eighth, then in the back row before finally moving to the front row. He went on to be selected for the Cordoba Province representative team in 1976. In 2012 the "Consejo Deliberante" of Concordia city bestowed upon TOPO, the special distinction of Honorific Life Ambassador for the city of San Antonio de Padua de la Concordia, for his distinguished career as a sportsman and fellow citizen. A prodigious son of Concordia.

Career

Rodríguez played his first Test match for Argentina against New Zealand 1979 and his last Test match for the Argentine team was against Australia on 7 August 1983 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In March 1984, he emigrated with his family to Sydney, Australia. Warringah RC organised his settlement in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Rodriguez played his first Test match for the Wallabies against Fiji on 9 June 1984 (barely 10 weeks after arrival) then a three-test series against New Zealand in Australia and the 1984 Grand Slam tour of UK and Ireland.

In June 1986 played his first test against Argentina, also took part in the Bledisloe Cup winning team in New Zealand. His last international for Australia, coincidentally was against Argentina on 7 November 1987, Buenos Aires.

He was also capped for Tahiti against France in an invitational match to celebrate Bastille Day in Papetee (14 July 1981). Other three guests also played for Tahiti, they were All Blacks' backs: Brett Codlin, Robert Kururangi and Tim Twigden.

Career Highlights
  • 1979 - First ever Tour of New Zealand. Match records: 9 games played, 6 wins
  • 1979 - First ever test match Argentina vs Australia, Buenos Aires. Pumas win 23–12
  • 1980 - South America XV Tour of South Africa (2 test matched played vs. Springboks)
  • 1983 - Argentina first 'overseas' win vs Australia, Ballymore 18–3
  • 1984 - 1984 The 8th Wallabies (Australia Rugby Union) Tour of UK and Ireland - Winning the then known as 1984 Grand Slam Tour of UK and Ireland
  • 1986 - Bledisloe Cup winning team, NZ
  • 1991 - Barbarian F.C. (UK) Centenary Tour 1990–91, and captain for two matches in 1991
  • 1995 - Scrum & Forwards Coach Australian Under-21's Rugby Union team Tour of Zimbabwe and Argentina

Honours and awards
  • 2000 - Australian Sports Medal, for services to Rugby Union
  • 2006 - Founder & CEO "BIPOLAR Education Foundation (2006–2013)
  • 2013 - IPP Gold Medal for publishing: The ART of Scrummaging
  • 2013 - Founder & Executive Chairman, ERC Consulting
  • 2016 - Co-Founder & Managing Director, Australian-Argentine Business Council (aa-bc.org)
  • 2016 - Silver Medal for publishing: Rugby-The ART of Scrummaging II
  • 2018 - Cancilleria Argentina (DFAT) - Distinction for Services to Argentina and Arg Community in Australia
  • 2018 - Embassy of the Republic of Cuba - Certificate of Appreciation "Friendship with Cuba" Award
  • 2018 - Founder and Executive Chairman, ARSA Worldwide (https://arsa-worldwide.com/)(To be developed)

International appearances

Clubs

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.espnscrum.com/argentina/rugby/player/8887.html
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