Rugby union in Argentina

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Rugby union is a popular team sport played in Argentina. The first rugby match played in the country dates back to 1873, as the game was introduced by the British. The Argentina national team, sometimes referred to as the Pumas, have competed at the Rugby World Cup, and are considered a tier one nation by the IRB. In more recent times, the governing body in Argentina has been the subject of controversy, leading to a strike in 2006 which threatened scheduled tests against the Wales and the All Blacks.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Overview 1.2 Present 2 Governing body 3 Competitions 4 Popularity 5 National team 5.1 7s National team 6 Media coverage 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] History

See also: History of rugby union

[edit] Overview

The first rugby union match in Argentina was played in 1873, the game having been brought to South America by the British. In 1899, four clubs in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, got together to form the River Plate Rugby Football Union. This body, one of the oldest rugby unions in the world, later became known as the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR), which became a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB) only after being invited to the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. Although rugby went professional in the mid 1990s, the domestic competition in Argentina has largely remained amateur. That has ensured large numbers of Argentinians playing overseas, particularly in European competitions, though these players are still eligible for the national team, and make up a large amount of the side.

[edit] Present

In late may, it became apparent that over 50^[1] Argentinian players would refuse to play in the upcoming international fixtures unless a dispute over funding was resolved.^[1] The strike was outlined in a letter to the UAR, citing their lack of support^[1] and the quality of facilities in the country^[2]. Part of the letter read "Despite the pain caused by the decision we took, we quit until these problems are solved".^[1] The relation between the players and the union was damaged when cut backs were implemented. The cut backs arose when the UAR was apparently near bankrupt, after a payout to a player who was left quadriplegic after a a domestic match.^[1]

UAR debts were estimated to be 1.6 million Argentine pesos^[1], which led to the cut-backs for the upcoming internationals as well as cancelling a lot of financial assistance and special training for the amateurs playing in the domestic competition, it also saw European-based players having to pay there own way to play the upcoming tests, though this was later solved by the UAR. Clermont and Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma, said that part of the problem was to for with the treatment of domestic players, who have not received player payments for international, sevens, or South American Championship games. It then became apparent that the strike wanted resignations from the UAR board, and that the strike may carry out to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. As the situation escalated, WRU seemed worried about their fixtures, as they were leaving for Argentina on June 1.

Soon after, it was revealed that the UAR agreed to pay their debt and give financial help to representative players, two of the demands the strike had outlined. A short term solution came about as players agreed to play the games against the Welsh and the All Blacks.^[2] It also became apparent that the International Rugby Board warned that the UAR would have been sanctioned had they not been able to fulfil their fixtures.

[edit] Governing body

Main article: Unión Argentina de Rugby

The Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) was formed in 1899 as the River Plate Rugby Football Union, 26 years after the first rugby match had been played. The union is a member of the International Rugby Board with a seat on that body's Executive Council. The UAR is one of the oldest rugby unions in the world. The union became a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB) after being invited to the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

[edit] Competitions

The Nacional de Clubes is the club rugby competition in Argentina, involving 16 teams divided into four zones, with the top two teams of each zone qualifying for the finals. The Buenos Aires League is a major competition in Argentina.

Argentina are often talked about as joining Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Super 14, possibly as two provinces. Following the hosting of the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand, who Argentina voted for, rugby figures within Argentina claimed that New Zealand could be helping out the country more, rather than just giving them an All Blacks test (which was actually arranged prior to the 2011 result). Some Argentinians were under the impression that New Zealand should be helping them gain entry into Southern Hemisphere competitions, ala Super 14 and the Tri Nations Series. Argentina pointed to them not having "box office appeal" for their current non-involvement in the competitions.^[3] NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, saying that there was no agreement between the nations, did however offer the UAR advice on how to improve its domestic competition and agreed to see All Black camp specialists to provide coaching in Buenos Aires when the All Blacks play the Pumas in June of 2006.^[3]

In the wake of Argentina's series win over Wales in the 2006 mid-year Tests, and realising that the Tri Nations would be a closed shop until at least 2009, Pumas captain Agustín Pichot publicly urged that Argentina be added to Europe's Six Nations Championship. In an interview with the Western Mail of Cardiff, he pointed out that all of the starting 15 that defeated Wales would play the 2006-07 season in Europe. Pichot added,

We, as a group of players, would be prepared to play our home games in Europe if we were able to join the Six Nations. I beg you to let us take part in it. What Italy did last season was great for the sport and I'm sure we could do the same.^[4]

[edit] Popularity

Rugby in Argentina is still largely amateur; however, there are many professional players.

Most important Argentine players emigrate to Europe (mainly to England and France) where they play professionally. Probably the best known players are Hugo Porta (played during the 1970s), current Pumas captain Agustín Pichot and current coach and former player Marcelo Loffreda.

[edit] National team

Main article: Argentina national rugby union team

The national team are nicknamed los Pumas, and wear blue and white jerseys - they are considered a top tier nation by the IRB, though they are currently the only tier one team that does not compete in annual competition with other tier one nations (see Tri Nations Series and Six Nations Championship).

Argentina played their first international on June 12, 1910, against a touring British Isles, losing 28 points to three. Argentina also competed at the first ever Rugby World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. Grouped with the All Blacks, Fiji and Italy, Argentina won their game against the Italians, but finished at the bottom of their pool on points difference. Subsequent World Cups saw similar results, in the 1999 tournament however, Argentina finished second in their pool and made it to the quarter finals. Argentinian Gonzalo Quesada was also the top scorer of the tournament. Their most recent performance, at the 2003 Rugby World Cup saw them finish third in pool A. The Nations Cup is a tournament involving Argentina A,and was first held in 2006.

In recent years Argentina have proven themselves capable of scaring and more than occasionally defeating rugby giants. For example, since November 2004, Argentina have picked up wins over all the participants in Europe's Six Nations Championship except for Ireland, and also have narrow losses to Ireland (on a last-second drop goal) and the All Blacks (who had to survive a last-second assault on their try line) in the same time frame.

[edit] 7s National team

Main article: Argentina national rugby union team (sevens)

[edit] Media coverage

ESPN Latin America show all of the national team's internationals as well as games from the domestic league. A magazine show is also broadcast on the channel. A lot of the international rugby union competitions and interntaionals are broadcast through by Fox Sports en Latinoamérica, for example, the Super 14 competition between provincial sides from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as South Africa's domestic competition, the Currie Cup, and New Zealand's Air New Zealand Cup. Fox also broadcasts numerous internationals, such as the Tri Nations Series, as well as other tests and tours.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Sport in Argentina

[edit] External links

• UAR.com.ar
• Rugby News from Argentina