He has been dubbed as the Brad Pitt of the world of polo. Dividing his time between New York, Palm Beach and Argentina, Ignacio 'Nacho' Figueras, is a winner on and off the field. The world class professional polo champion developed a love for the sport at the tender age of nine and turned professional when he was 17. Today, he straddles its exciting world with seamless ease. A Ford model, his natural charisma in front of the camera has seen him being featured in many an international publication.
Chosen the face of Polo Double Black, Ralph Lauren's latest men's fragrance that will debut this month, in India with an ad campaign starring 'Nacho', photographed by Bruce Weber, the stylish figure remains in the news no matter what he does. "Polo is my life," he says. "To love polo, you have to love horses because when you're on the field with the horse, you are one. That is polo for me - loving the horse and knowing the game."

What drew you to this royal sport?
Definitely the best thing about polo and what I am most passionate about are the horses. The game of polo is, of course, also very appealing and attractive; it is a sport that requires a great deal of strategy and team work which makes it a lot of fun too. But I do not think polo is a royal sport; on the contrary I think polo is a sport for everybody. The beauty of it is that it can put players from every part of the world, every culture and every social status on the same level. I think of polo as the sport that opened many doors for me in the world, hailing as I do from a middle class family in Argentina.

An accident put you in the hospital for four days around 1995, in Paris. What exactly happened?
I was playing my first season as a professional in Paris at the age of 17. I went for a ball and an opponent hit a backhander shot right in front of me. The ball came out really fast and hit me right between the eye and my nose.
I had a concussion and a broken nose and 30 stitches in my eyebrow. I do not think that affected me at all. Polo is a dangerous sport and we learn to live with it; you can't play polo if you think about what can happen.

Is it as hot-blooded and 'tempered' as it appears to be? Do tempers run high on the field?
Polo is a very hot-blooded sport. It is played very fast; it can be very dangerous. You are playing with your life in almost every game. It is like racing an F-1 car; a mistake can be very expensive, but that is what makes it exciting. Controlling your emotions and controlling the horse are a key part of the game, experience becomes a big factor in critical moments. I used to get very nervous before games in the past. I have learned to control that a lot in the recent past.

How do you react to all the female adulation?
I take it in my stride. I try to use the opportunity that Ralph Lauren Fragrances has given me to help me promote my sport. Becoming a spokesperson for Polo Black and Polo Double Black and all the attention that it has given me has been an amazing way to talk to the world about my sport, my country and my idea of making polo a sport for everybody in the world. I would someday like to be considered the Bernie Ecclestone (the man behind Formula 1) of polo.

In all these years what have been your most satisfying moments on the field?
The hardest part is losing the game. I hate to lose but I can still appreciate the sport and the way the horses play. When you lose, the only thing that makes you smile is the way your horses performed that day.

Is it as easy walking on the ramp, posing for the camera as it is playing on the field?
When I am in front of the camera, I am still ‘Nacho’ Figueras, the polo player. It is all about who I am and not the way I look. There are millions of faces out there better than mine but it is what I do when not in front of the camera, that adds that valuable dimension to me.

What is your awareness about the level of polo playing in India?
I am very aware of the polo scene in India. I have never played in the country, but I am looking forward to doing so in the near future. As a matter of fact, I am working on a big project to bring polo to India and China at a high level.

What helps you relax after a strenuous game of polo?
My family is my cable to earth – there is nothing like going back home to spend time with my wife, Delfina and kids – son, Hilario and daughter, Aurora. I also run a little the next day to ‘wash’ the muscles and have steam baths and massages.

You are turning 30 on May 25…. Age slows down most of us…. What next? After polo, what?
I feel that I am at the peak of my career. I love my sport and I still have 10 years to play at a high level. I have always wanted to do something more with my sport – Ralph Lauren Fragrances has helped me become an ambassador to the sport. Together, we are going to take polo to the next level.