Matías Corral (born August 10, 1968) is a former Argentine rugby union player. He played as a prop.

Matías Corral
Birth nameMatías Corral
Date of birth (1968-08-10) August 10, 1968 (age 55)
Place of birthBuenos Aires, Argentina
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Notable relative(s)Alejo Corral (Brother)
Children3
Occupation(s)Country Manager of ZARA
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988-1995 SIC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992-1995 URBA 31 (10)
Correct as of September 12, 1995
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992-1995 Argentina 17 (5)
Correct as of September 12, 1995

He played in First Division for the San Isidro Club (SIC ) between 1988 and 1995. World champion with Los Pumitas under-19, in the World Cup 1987 and Puma from 1992 until his retirement after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa where he was honored as the best left prop of the world Cup that year, the only Argentine joined the Dream Team. Also, along with Patricio Noriega and Federico Mendez, they were named as the best first line of the world. He is the older brother of Alejo Corral, current player of SIC and Los Teros.

Sport career edit

Matías always played at the San Isidro Club, debuted in first division in 1988, forming one of the most memorable first lines, with Juan José Angelillo and Diego Cash. He joined the under-19 and 21 province selection of Buenos Aires and Los Pumitas. In 1992 he joined the university selection in the World Cup played in Rome where he finished in the second place. Also in the same year, he represented the Senior Selection of Buenos Aires. In 1993, plays his first Test-Match with Los Pumas, in the victory against Japan. Of the 17 test matches played, he won 8 and lost 9. Also, in 1993, with Buenos Aires Selection, he was part of the team who beat the Springboks 28–27, being one of the most valuable players of the match, which earned him a nomination for the Olimpia Award that year. In 1994 the prestigious Argentine journal Clarín, honored him as the best rugby player in Argentina. In 1995, he played his only World Cup, where Argentina showed a high level, despite all the previous problems, losing against England[1] for 24–18, match in which the English could not score any tries. Then, came the losses against Samoa and Italy, where Corral score his only try in his short international career. Corral was recognized as the best left prop of the World Cup. Then, after the Rugby World Cup, and rejecting offers to play in several of the best clubs of Europe and Oceania, he decided to study a master in marketing in Boston[2] University, USA.

Honours edit

Local Titles edit

Title Club Country Year
URBA San Isidro Club   Argentina 1993
Nacional de Clubes San Isidro Club   Argentina 1993
URBA San Isidro Club   Argentina 1994
Nacional de Clubes San Isidro Club   Argentina 1994

Provincial Titles edit

Title Union Country Year
Argentine Championship Buenos Aires   Argentina 1994
Punta del Este Sevens Buenos Aires   Argentina 1994

International Titles edit

Title Union Country Year
Pan-American Championship Los Pumas   Argentina 1995
South American Championship Los Pumas   Argentina 1993
World Cup U-19 Los Pumitas   Argentina 1987

Cups Details edit

Present edit

Corral, who always defined himself as "an athlete before a rugby player" makes his words do not die in the attempt. At the moment, when his has some free time as Country Manager of ZARA, he dedicate and prepares for marathons, but not just any marathon, he runs the Ironman, one of the hardest disciplines, consisting of three stages: 3,8 km swimming, 180 km in bicycle and 42 km running until the end line. Matías has completed three Ironmans: Florida and the Rio de Janeiro in 2009 and China in 2010, where he recorded 1h.15m.52s., swimming, 5h.55m.11s, cycling and 4h.56m.01s., running, totaling a 12h.19m.28s time of pure activity without breaks or intervals. His training allowed him to get back together with several of his old friends from the national team by being part of the Pumas Classics Team in the World Cup in Bermuda in 2010.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Aquel sábado de mayo del 95". 9 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Matías Corral un Puma suelto en Boston". 27 February 1996.

External links edit