Daniel Santamans was a former French rugby union player, as a hooker, and coach.

He played for Blagnac SCR

Blagnac SCR

Blagnac Sporting Club Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Fédérale 1, the top level of the country's amateur league system. The club is currently attempting to make a comeback to the professional ranks after having been relegated due to both sporting and financial issues...

 and for Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...

, from 1977 to 1989, where he won 3 titles of French Champion (1985, 1986 and 1989) and a Cup of France, in 1984.

After ending his player career, he become a coach, first at the youths level of Stade Toulousain (1989–1995). He won 4 titles (1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995), before being promoted to assistant coach at the main team (1995–1997). He won the French Championship in 1997.

He latter coached the French teams of FC Lourdes

FC Lourdes

FC Lourdais is a French rugby union club currently competing in the French league system. Formed in 1911 they have won the French league eight times and the French cup six times. They play in the Stade Antoine-Beguere and traditionally wear blue and red jerseys. Their most notable former player is...

 (2000–2002), Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby

Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby

Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system....

 (2002–2003) and Blagnac SCR (2003–2004).

Santamans was signed for Romania

Romania national rugby union team

The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...

 in 2004, where he remained until 2007. He won the Six Nations Tournament, Group B, in 2006, and qualified Romania for the 2007 Rugby World Cup

2007 Rugby World Cup

The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...

 finals. Romania achieved a bonus point at the 18-24 loss to Italy

Italy national rugby union team

The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...

 and a 14-10 win over Portugal

Portugal national rugby union team

The Portugal national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. They first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup. Rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in...

.

After that, he returned to France, to become the coach of Blagnac SCR.

He did unexpectedly from a cardiovascular accident, at the funeral of his mother, aged only 48.