Argentina - Rugby in Argentina and its great derby

Their historical performances vs. The most powerful teams and the third place in the last World championship have placed them among the best teams on the planet. 

Rugby is one of the most traditional sports in Argentina. It was brought to the country by English immigrants in the 1870s. Even though at the beginning it was played, almost exclusively, in European schools and universities, its development in Argentina took place un different clubs in Buenos Aires –and roundabouts-, Rosario, Tucumán and Córdoba.
 
Club Atlético de San Isidro (CASI), La Plata Rugby Club, San Isidro Club, Hindú Club, Banco Nación, Club Universitario de Buenos Aires (CUBA), Tucumán Rugby Club and Pueyrredón, are some of the clubs that were born in the first half of XX Century, and they encouraged practice of Rugby in Argentina.

Argentinean rugby is known World Wide because of the high level of the national team, Los Pumas. Their historical performances vs. the most powerful teams and the third place in the last World championship have placed them among the best teams on the planet.
 

Argentinean rugby

Argentinean rugby classic

With more than 70 years of history, CASI vs. SIC is the most popular game in Argentinean rugby. The matches played by these teams – both from traditional San Isidro-, are feverously placed and the stadium is always full.

Argentinean Stars

Argentinean rugby has given, through history, a great number of skillful players; Hugo Porta, considered in the 80’s as one of the best players in the World, and also Felipe Contepomi, Ignacio Corleto, Patricio Albacete, Lucas Borges and Juan Martín Hernández, among others, who are currently stars in big teams abroad.

Los Pumas are born

In 1965, the national team made a historic tour around South Africa and South Rhodesia, winning 11 of 16 games. In that series of friendly games the nick name Los Pumas was used for the first time, given by a South African journalist to refer to the yaguareté printed in the Argentinean shirts.