Argentina

Two years before the first ever Rugby World Cup, Argentina hosted New Zealand for a two test tour with both matches being played at Ferrocaril Oeste in Buenos Aires. The All Blacks won the first test 33-20 but Los Pumas responded to come back from an 18-9 halftime deficit to draw the match 21-21 in front of 30,000 fans. Legendary Pumas flyhalf, Hugo Porta scored all of Argentina´s points and underlined himself as one of the best players of his generation. To this day he continues to be considered one of the best flyhalves of all time.

The match is a testiment to how far rugby in Argentina has come with the UAR now capable of hosting matches throughout the country. The former home of Pumas test matches, Ferrocaril Oeste, has known as the Cathedral of Argentine rugby and even suggested as being the Twickenham of Buenos Aires. Today the venue is not large enough to be used as a home venue for Pumas matches as larger venues in Buenos Aires such as Velez Sarsfeld and the River Plate Stadium are much larger and have attracted fullhouses for international matches. During the twenty-five years thats have taken place since the time of this match, in 1985, the sport has boomed in playing numbers and spectator interest and truely is a prime candidate to host a Rugby World Cup. Games are no longer restricted to Buenos Aires and with Argentina set to enter an expanded Tri Nations in 2012 crowds can only grow as the matches will be tournament fixtures not friendlies.

This year will be an unprecedented one for rugby in Argentina, with the Pumas playing a total of 12 matches, including six at home, against the strongest nations in the world.

Pumas will play their first home Rugby Championship match against South Africa on August 25 at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in the western city of Mendoza.



The Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, previously known as the Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, in Mendoza was one of six venues used by Argentina to host the 11th edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1978. The stadium played host to six matches and has also been a key Argentinean stadium ever since. It was selected as a venue to host the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina and the 2011 Copa América. The stadium was built in 1976 specifically for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

The Estadio Malvinas Argentinas has a capacity at present of 40,268 making it a similar size to Wellington which hosted six pool matches and two Quarter-Finals at Rugby World Cup 2011. It also has a larger capacity than five venues used in France 2007 including Bordeaux, Montpellier and Toulouse who all hosted four pool matches. Thus, Mendoza as it stands, is ready to host Rugby World Cup matches.

Mendoza is Argentina´s fourth largest city with a population of 1.1 million and is the capital of Mendoza province. It is also the largest city in the Andean region of Argentina. It was founded in 1561 by Pedro del Castillo and in 2008 was listed as one of the top 10 historic destinations in the World by National Geographic magazine. It is one of the most famous cities in Argentina due to the regions production of wine. Mendoza produces over 60% of all wine from Argentina and is the largest producer of wine in Latin America. Red wines including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo are Mendoza´s most important varieties. The region also has a large olive oil industry and is one of Argentina´s top skiing destinations.

Mendoza is located 1,100KM west of Argentina´s capital, Buenos Aires and 380KM east of Chile´s capital, Santiago. The main road between the two South American capital cities passes through Mendoza. Argentina´s second largest city, Córdoba, is 500KM north-east of Mendoza. Compared to venues used in France 2007 Mendoza appears isolated but it certainly is not compared to Australia 2003. For instance, the two Quarter-Final venues used for Rugby World Cup 2003, Melbourne and Brisbane, are over 1500KM apart with a flight time of 3.5 hours. In comparison, by plane the trip from Buenos Aires to Mendoza is less than 2 hours by plane. An additional example is the distance from the two largest venues at Rugby World Cup 2011 - Auckland and Christchurch. They are over 900KM apart and it takes over 15 hours to travel from one to the other by car because of the ferry crossing between the North and South Islands. Mendoza is, therefore, located comparatively close and will mean travelling by land or air is in no way a large or complicated task.


The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, just outside Buenos Aires, will play host to their clash against Rugby World Cup holders New Zealand on September 29




One of South Americas newest and most impressive stadiums is the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata in La Plata. It was selected as a key venue for the 2011 Copa América and will host the opening match of the tournament. The stadium opened in 2003 with Argentina playing host to Uruguay in a friendly soccer match. It has not played host to international rugby yet but is certain to do so with Argentina entering The Rugby Championship in 2012. The stadium has been chosen to host Argentina vs New Zealand in September 2012. The city, however, has played host to a number of important rugby fixtures such as Argentina A vs France in June 2010 and the 2010 URBA Final. The city has produced a number of international rugby players including Federico Martín Aramburu and Mariano Galarza.

The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata has a seating capacity of 53,000 making it larger than twelve of the thirteen venues selected to host Quarter-Finals for Rugby World Cup 2011 and eight of the ten French stadiums used for Rugby World Cup 2007. Its size and modernity makes it an ideal venue to host Rugby World Cup matches. Should Argentina bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023, La Plata could host at least four pool matches and at least one Quarter-Final.

It appears to be a very similar stadium to Loftus Versfeld Stadium (51,000) in Pretoria, South Africa which hosted five matches at Rugby World Cup 1995, including one Quarter Final and the Bronze Final. It also hosted six matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Like Pretoria, La Plata is located close to the country´s largest city. Pretoria is located 53KM from Johannesburg and La Plata is 60KM from Buenos Aires. In addition to Pretoria, two different stadiums from Johannesburg were used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Should Argentina 2023 become a reality, the idea should be to do exactly the same thing with Buenos Aires having two stadiums and La Plata one.

La Plata is Argentina´s sixth largest city with a population of 732,000 and is the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires. It was founded on November 19, 1882 by Dardo Rocha to be the headquarters of the provincial government so that it could be recognized separately from the city of Buenos Aires which is the country´s federal district. La Plata is also home to Argentina´s largest cathedral and one of the country´s best universties, the Universidad Nacional de La Plata which President Cristina Fernández de Kircher graduated in Law as did her husband and previous Argentina President, Nestór Kirchner. La Plata means silver in Spanish.

La Plata is located 60KM east of Buenos Aires making it an easy place to get to.

Greater Buenos Aires

The final match in the competition against Australia on October 6 will be staged at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario.



Argentina hosted the 11th edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1978 with the Estadio Dr. Lisandro de la Torre, also known as the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito hosting 6 matches. As one of the seven venues used by Argentina, Rosario's largest stadium is certain to host matches should Argentina host Rugby World Cup 2023. The stadium was opened in 1929 but remodeled from 1957-1968 into a concrete stadium. It was again remodeled from 1974-78 to give Rosario an appropriate venue to host matches at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. It has been subsequently used to host other important soccer events including matches during the 1987 Copa América, and international matches involving Argentina, most recently a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier between Argentina and Brazil in 2009.

The stadium is similar to that of the Estadio Chateau Carreras in Córdoba in that in addition to having a decorated history with soccer it has also hosted international rugby. In 2008, like Córdoba, the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito hosted a rugby international for the first time as Argentina played Scotland. Despite missing many key players due to the match taking place before the French play-off´s, the Rosario public responded and packed the stadium. They would not be disappointed as Argentina scored two tries to nil to win the match 21-15. The stadium will host Argentina vs Australia in The Rugby Championship with the city awarded this mega match in October.

The Estadio Gigante de Arroyito has a capacity, at present, of 41,654. At present the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito is a quality venue fit to host Rugby World Cup matches and could be a similar host city to Brisbane for Rugby World Cup 2003 or Wellington for Rugby World Cup 2011.

The city of Rosario is the third largest in Argentina after the capital, Buenos Aires and Córdoba. It was founded in 1793 but has become increasingly important for Argentina due to industry and its strategic location on the Parana River which is wide and deep enough for ships to access. The city has a population of 1.2 million and is famous for its rich involvement in art as well as its nightlife.

Rosario is located in eastern Argentina and is the largest city in the Santa Fé province. It is 300KM north of Buenos Aires, 373KM east of Córdoba, 800KM south-east of Tucumán and 146KM south of the city of Santa Fé. It is located close to half way between Buenos Aires and Córdoba and the main highway from Buenos Aires to Tucumán also passes through Rosario as does the highway between Buenos Aires and Santa Fé. The city is therefore ideally suited to act as a venue for key matches with teams moving west from Buenos Aires, or east to Buenos Aires. Given the size of the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, it could be used to stage 4 or 5 pool matches, in the same way as the above mentioned venues from Rugby World Cup 2003 and 2011. Fans would be greatly advantaged by being able to follow their team in one direction and take in plenty of Argentina at the same time. It would make travelling by land a real an easy option for teams and fans alike.



Statistics of Argentina against the Tri Nations teams:

Argentina vs Australia: Played 17 Won 4 Lost 12 Drew 1
Argentina vs New Zealand: Played 17 Lost 16 Drew 1
Argentina vs South Africa: Played 13 Lost 13

- Avellaneda (46,000)
- Buenos Aires (River Plate - 67,000)
- Córdoba (57,000)
- La Plata (53,000)
- Mar del Plata (35,000)
- Mendoza (45,000)
- Resistencia (25,000)
- Rosario (41,000)
- Salta (20,000)
- San Juan (25,000)
- San Salvador de Jujuy (24,000)
- Santa Fé (40,000)
- Tucumán (32,000)

We are looking forward to compete in the formerly known tri nations this year. Al tough we are the little guy I think it can only be good for the future of Rugby in Argentina who have to compete with Football.

Thanks for the introduction Cave Dweller. Welcome aboard; it adds to the diversity to have an Argentinean view point. The same can be said for the Pumas joining what was the trinations.

Look forward to reading more from Argie's answer to Paarlbok!

Am sure there are others here same as me who would like to know about the domestic rugby scene in Argentina, and also of any schools/junior rugby news, just intrigued how Argentina could produce such great rugby players in a football mad country!

Hang on! Australia produces great rugby players in an AFL and League mad country! So so can Argentina no doubt.

Thanks CD for all the useful data here and for your contribution.

Having Argentina and now the 4 Nations, in this glory of rugby's global reach and future potential, is what we love about the whole game.

I know there'll be great interest here in the forthcoming games in Argentina and the same when you tour to us. And we all hope your engagement in this expanded Championship will be great for rugby's development in Argentina!

So keep your posts coming.

Posted this originally in another thread but this would be a better home for it. Would like to hear your opinion on this Cave Dweller:

Cave Dweller that raises a question that may need it's own thread, which is, how will S15 be affected by Argentina's participation in the rugby championship. With a lot of Argentina's players playing in Europe, over time there may be a push for these players to move back to the SHs. Taking into account the restrictions on foreign players in the established S15 teams there may be a push in the coming years to have Argentine teams in super rugby. Exciting times to be an Argentine rugby fan.

Got to say I am looking forward to seeing the Pumas in the Championship, while Italy may not have progressed as far as they should/could of in the 6 nations Argentinian rugby is sure to benefit from this. Especially as you guys are already 7th in the rankings and so are coming from a much stronger base than Italy were in the NH.

Beautiful country and a proud Rugby history, hopefully you can smash them antipodeans (i jest my antipodean friends)

Rugby in Argentina is largely played by the middle class who have access to facilities, whereas children in the underprivileged areas can do no more than watch since they have little or no access to the simplest of rugby equipment. That is why you will see guys like Contepomi have a surgeons degree. That is the main problem. It is the second biggest sport in Argentina behind football but football you can use anything to make a ball and can play it anywhere you do not need grass like in rugby normally. Unless you want to play touch rugby but no one wants to play that forever.

IRB pumped 2 million into Argentine football every year to support development which is helping out but most of the clubs are amateurs so there is no money really for the clubs to concentrate on youth teams and senior team or do have the money to help out schools or less developed areas with equipment.

They also advertise openings and ask people with any coaching experience no matter how little to go over to Argentina and help out at the schools and such. So it helps the young children and the coaches gain a bit of experience and a look at a different culture. I do not know if they do it already but if I was in charge of a professional rugby team I would have sent a couple of scouts acting as coaches over to have a look at talent before the European teams snatch them. Sanzar also promised a spot to a Argentine Super Rugby team after 2015. The IRB has instructed clubs luckily to release the Argentine player for the Championship matches AND the Argentine Rugby Union has signed a contract that they must play the strongest team available! So no 2nd string sides due to selfish European clubs luckily. That was the last word according it and I do not hope new complications arrive as European clubs like their football counterparts can be full of tricks when it comes to releasing players.

I also think the IRB must start to look at Rugby like football in a sense when Internationals gets played. For whole world International games dates must be set for all at same period and that period is no club or franchise rugby. So 6 Nations and Championship must be around same time with no club rugby. Or they must set this period to this period out for internationals. This would help developing countries some help as they do not have the local structure to keep their best players in the country and play for local teams. So they have to play outside the country to earn a paycheck.

The clubs here are amateur and the rugby union here is fighting hard to keep it that way. I think there is no other choice as there is no money. The government can not help as there is not really money to pay its own employees or provide some essential services.



Here is one of the local school teams in Buenos Aires from the AGRG1 project

Those are Sports Centres or “Parques” which enable kids from low income families to join governmental sports programmes which use rugby as a tool to encourage kids to get involved in sports by introducing basic skills. Kids in Argentina are extremely friendly and naturally sports-mad people. We all are! We just need the exposure to it.

At Floresta Rugby Club, they coach more about tactical awareness, passing and team play. Floresta RC is a semi professional team and rely on Volenteer coaches coming over to visit out beautiful country and help out.

3 Guys who started their stints with the national team to look at are Martín Landajo, Benjamín Madero and Francisco Panessi.

Also former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry was brought in a consultant. But I do not know if that can be a good thing as it can lead to conflict of interest. Henry will not form part of the Pumas coaching team when we meet the All Blacks in Wellington on September 8 or in Buenos Aires in the return match three weeks later due to the terms of his latest NZRU contract. So he is basically only doing consulting for Aus and SA matches. I really think NZ should have been a better sport and let him help in all the matches. Otherwise we should have looked at someone else who does not have that conflict of interest. But that said we need all the help we can get.

Great posts Cave Dweller.
Im excited about this comp.
I think Henry is an awesome addition to the Argies (yes im biased) even if he in a passive role.
He always said he has a huge amount of respect for the Pumas style of play. I reckon that now there playing difficult games more often they will only get better and thats good for world rugby.
I expect a few wins are on the cards or the Pumas.

I know some of the sport's travel companies are organising trips to the Championship (through gritted teeth) games, so it looks like the attendees will be having a good time.

Great to hear from Cave Dewller. I know the Beau Robbo did some coaching in the US in the off season, so next year he might go to Agrie. You never know..

And for all the Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans who haven't been there, Argentina is a fantastic place to visit. By far my favourite south american country. Love the lifestyle, the people and the culture. Some of the farming areas out west were very similar to the Australian ones, but with a lot more culture and much better food!

PS Their steak is probably also better than ours.

I'm looking forward to the cameras catching out the Argentine babes in the crowd.

Sister recently married an Argie, and she lives there now. May be an excuse to watch some international rugby.

And great red wines.

I can confirm - their steaks are better, their Malbec is the best wine in the world to drink with their steak, and even at the lowest levels they play exciting, running rugby.

Practice the following "Un Bife de Chorizo por favor"

Even those cheese steaks for the quasi-vegetarians are pretty good. Can't remember what they are called.

Ah, found it - Provoleta.

Two Sydney Schools, Oakhill College Castle Hill and St Pats Strathfield are touring Chile and Argentina in April. Not sure about St Pat's itinerary, but Oakhill are playing games in Santiago, Mendoza and Buenos Aries. When I was a kid, we toured Tamworth! Great to see, what an opportunity for everyone involved.

Hey Cave dweller, You're right about clubs not relaesing players happens with Wales players playing in France and England so I think you shouldn't be surprissed if it Happens to yo u too.
BTW saw you over on a welsh board I think Chris was giving you a hard time, take no notice, call in again,

lol Thank you. Luckily I do not take everything to hart. I believe we all have different cultures and we all show our passion towards it. Sometimes it clash but in good spirit and that is how sport should be.

Thanks for the others for the comments about my country. It is a beautiful place and like every country it has its bad places but that is just a blimp on the radar. I was one of the fortunate ones to travel around the world and have been to the US, Canada, South Africa, India, France and Japan but I still want to make a stop in NZ, Australia, Fiji and UK as well as Germany and Spain (Ibiza and Barcelona mostly). But my studies going to keep me busy for the next 5 years so traveling between Argentina and Brazil have to do. Luckily Brazil got such lovely ladies as well!

But back to the rugby yes Dai it will be interesting to see what happens in the players regard because I believe one must proof itself playing in a tournament as well as show improvement year by year as a result of it. I think it can not be achieved by sending weaker sides over to 3 of the strongest teams in the world. I really hope the IRB gets it schedule sorted out to have worldwide International weekends at same times. Rugby is not a winter sport anymore. It is professionally mostly and it played through out the year. So sync the club/franchise seasons in both Hemisphere and the Internationals like in football.

Bloody top thread Cave Dweller. All the best to the Argies in their new comp. I hope in future years we can get super rugby in your neck of the woods.