Injured Contepomi not ready to retire

Keen to play on: Felipe Contepomi

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Veteran Pumas and Stade Français playmaker Felipe Contepomi has been ruled out for as long as four months but has rejected suggestions his career may be over.

The 35-year-old was recalled into Argentina's squad for the November internationals only to suffer a serious knee injury in the 14th minute of last Saturday's win over Wales, prompting speculation that he would be forced to hang up his boots.

The 79-Test cap fly-half/centre insists however that he will return and hopes to feature in the latter stages of the current Top 14 season.

"It was a bad injury but it could have been worse. I did my posterior cruciate ligament but at least there's no surgery required," Contepomi told Off The Ball on Newstalk.

"I'll be out for three or four months, and hopefully in February or March I'll come back. Hopefully I'll play for the last third of the season for Stade Français.

"I'm not thinking about Argentina. My mind is on my recovery and hopefully I'll come back as good as possible. If I'm competitive (then I'll come back for Argentina), but I'm not thinking about that.

"When I retire I'll retire from rugby, it's up to the coaches. While I'm playing competitive rugby I'll always be available for the Argentinian team.

"Fitness wise I was feeling really good, and hopefully I can come back to the same fitness. It's not the end of the world, it's an injury. As a rugby player you know you can get these injuries and hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later."

Argentina have added Marcelo Bosch and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino to their squad ahead of Saturday's clash with France after full-back Juan Martin Hernandez was also forced off early in Cardiff.

"There were situations like Felipe and Juan Martin having to come off that forced us to field players in positions we hadn't worked on but we knew we could use," coach Santiago Phelan told reporters.

"They adapted very well which shows how well they fitted into the team and how important all the players are in the squad."

Argentina also play Ireland in Dublin on November 24.