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Amalia Argudo Llobregat: The Spanish back making her name at Stade Toulousain
Toulouse. Home to one of the most legendary clubs in the World, and home to some of the best game-changers of the sport, like Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Lina Queyroi, Pauline Bourdon Sansus, and Amalia Argudo Llobregat.
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The Spanish international departed early to France, joining the Stade Toulousain ranks when she was only 16 years old, a decision she made without even thinking twice.
“In under two months, I made my decision, packed my bags and travelled to France. I didn’t even speak French, but I had to go. It was the opening I was waiting for, and I couldn’t say no or just wait for another opportunity to come.”
“Fast forward nine years, and here I am playing my 50th game for Stade Toulousain. Nothing was given to me, I had to fight for every inch, and I am profoundly grateful to Toulouse.”
Argudo first picked up the rugby ball when she was only four years old, influenced by her father and older siblings, who were also rugby players. The now 25-year-old Test match player can’t recall a time rugby wasn’t a part of her life.
“I have no memory of myself without a rugby ball, to be honest. It has been there since I first opened my eyes. It is a part of me. It is like food or water for me. I can’t live without it, even when I was injured in my shoulder and had to go from surgery to surgery. Rugby is everything for me.”
For those unfamiliar with Amalia Argudo’s career and life, after debuting for Toulouse’s senior team in 2018, she also proceeded to earn her first caps for Las Leonas sevens and 15s. Although she quickly rose to the top, her right shoulder was a hindrance, plaguing her for seven years, and raising several new obstacles at every turn.
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“My right shoulder became one of my biggest challenges. I first injured myself while skiing, which led to my bone getting infected after the surgery. When I moved to Toulouse in 2016, I had to miss several games in the first three seasons. In under seven years, I underwent surgery five times.”
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The utility back would always make a triumphant comeback, but at some point, her shoulder would crack open again and inflict more pain and extra time on the sidelines. In 2023, she went for another procedure.
“It was a make-or-break moment. I was tired of getting injured, recovering, starting the season well, getting injured, and repeating the same cycle all over again. Thankfully, Doctor Teresa Marlet came into my life and managed to fix it.
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“She told me that there was a 95% chance it could not work. But I wasn’t going to give up, I was going to find a way to get back to my best.”
But the thought of an early retirement was put to bed with the help of her family and her own will.
“My mother told me I was crazy and that I shouldn’t give up. And I didn’t. If, for some reason, my right shoulder hurt again, I would keep going. If I was able to play for the last seven years without it, I wasn’t going to stop now. I would learn how to tackle even better with my left shoulder, or figure out a plan B. There’s always a solution.”
What is certain is that the 42-cap Spanish international never stopped fighting and believing she would make a full recovery. And the best of it all? She will get the chance to play in the World Cup for the very first time.
“To know I will be playing in the World Cup makes me feel happy. We are still fine-tuning some areas and getting properly ready ahead of our first game, but we expect to compete and to show who we are as a team.”
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Argudo was part of the team that tried to qualify for the 2021 World Cup, with the team successfully beating Ireland but falling short against Scotland and Italy. Although there was the sour taste of failure, the utility back learnt valuable lessons and acknowledges her team’s growth.
“We are a family, and because of it, we’ve got to a better place. Compare our performance between the two last WXVs. We have refined some key areas of our game, including our kicking strategy and the way we approach the phases. I think we can compete against the very best in the world.”
Argudo was pivotal in her team’s qualifying, scoring 20 points in the WXV3 2024, which was, in her opinion, some of the best performances from the Leonas. However, she doesn’t forget the trying times between 2021 and 2024.
“It was a challenge for us, as the national team had to go for an almost full reset after not qualifying for the 2021 World Cup. The new generations that joined the squad were quite promising, but the team simply didn’t have the same game experience.
“We needed more time to rebuild our structures and develop a more in-depth squad. But after almost four years, I do believe we have all become better individuals.”
For Argudo, becoming a Leona was one of the biggest pieces of her rugby puzzle, pushing her to create new goals and dreams but, at the same time, accept new responsibilities.
“To be a Leona is to be part of a legacy, a legacy of devotion, pride, sacrifice and overcoming any obstacles. We are here to write our own history, to teach others how to dream and how to achieve those dreams. ‘Trabajar y sacrificio’, work and sacrifice, even if we have to do it alone and in the darkness. We will ultimately shine.”
Alongside her pride as a Leona, Argudo feels as proud to be a member of Stade Toulousain, a club that gave her the tools to achieve greatness. She made her debut in 2018.
“I came in as a fullback replacement. I wasn’t expecting to be selected at that time, as I was 19 years old and was just coming back from an injury. I was nervous, but I had no time to humour any kind of anxiety or stress. I was subbed in, did my job and felt happy to debut for Toulouse.”
And three years later, she got the right to lift the Élite 1 crown, a first for Stade Toulousain since the women’s programme started back in the 2010s.
“I was picked for the knockout stage, and we made it to the final, where we would be facing our greatest rival, Blagnac. It went down to the wire, but we managed to win it. Then the emotional rollercoaster ensued as we were celebrating what was our first Élite 1 championship.”
Argudo played 80 minutes in Toulouse’s loss in the Élite 1 final, in a game that was streamed live. However, 90% of the Élite 1 and Élite 2 games have not had the same luck, and the Spanish international argues that something needs to change.
“For me, it is unfathomable that the Élite 1 games [France’s top women’s division] aren’t broadcast or streamed. You hardly see any clips from our games, and that stops the sport from growing. We need that exposure to entice more young girls to join us.”
Having been around for the past 21 years, the Spanish magician is happy how things have changed for women all over the rugby world, but asks the sport not to stop here, as there’s still much to be done.
“I think people have little idea of the amount of sacrifice players in Spain, Italy, and other countries pour into the game. They work or study all day, then hit the gym, go to practice until 11 pm, returning home late and exhausted.
“These conditions don’t allow players to develop to another degree. These are complicated structural changes, but they are needed if we want to walk into a new era for the game and sport.”
With all set and done, Argudo wishes to push boundaries and be part of a new era and time for the women’s game. Having already started her Strength and Conditioning company, she doesn’t hide the desire to one day play in the PWR, but, for now, the World Cup is all that matters.
“One of the first lessons that I learned is that planning your life too much doesn’t give you any sort of advantage. Things can change on a weekly or even daily basis. I don’t close doors, but I don’t get stressed if they don’t ever show up. Step by step.”
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