Rugby’s Rising Star: How Argentina Is Captivating the World Beyond Football

How rugby union is booming in football – While Lionel Messi has been the face of Argentine sporting excellence, capturing global attention as his nation reached consecutive World Cup finals in football, another sport is experiencing remarkable growth across the country. The Pumas, Argentina’s national rugby union team, have established themselves as consistent performers on the international stage, securing three semi-final appearances within the last five Rugby World Cup tournaments. This week, they welcome England to Santiago del Estero, eager to mirror the success of their footballing counterparts.

Felipe Contepomi, who currently serves as the Pumas’ head coach, brings valuable experience to the role. The former Leinster fly-half competed in the 2007 World Cup, when Argentina achieved their first-ever run to the final four. That historic campaign featured victories against France, Ireland, and Scotland, setting the foundation for future success. Building on that momentum, the team reached semi-finals in both 2015 and 2023, significantly boosting rugby’s profile in a nation where football traditionally reigns supreme.

“Amateur rugby here in Argentina is booming,” Contepomi told BBC Sport. “It’s very community-based rugby and the clubs are growing. We have more and more people every year.”

The coach emphasized the unique cultural position of rugby within Argentina. “It is not comparable with football because I always say rugby is a sport, football is a religion for an Argentinian,” he explained. “The dimension is completely different. Even myself, I live for rugby, but football is still in my skin.”

The upcoming Nations Championship clash carries significant scheduling details. Argentina versus England takes place on Saturday 18 July at 20:10 BST, with kickoff at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero. Historically, Argentina’s international players have emerged primarily from private schools located in the country’s traditional rugby strongholds.

Buenos Aires continues to serve as the nation’s largest rugby center, where both Contepomi and current captain Julian Montoya were born. Meanwhile, Tucuman—situated relatively close to Saturday’s venue—holds the distinction of being the only region where rugby surpasses football in popularity, according to Contepomi’s observations.

“The good thing is that rugby started in Argentina among the middle class and upper middle class, but now it’s played in every social class,” said the former Leinster fly-half. “It is played in every corner of the country, not only in Buenos Aires but in every province.”

Argentina’s World Cup achievements become even more impressive considering the absence of a professional club team within the country. The Jaguares participated in Super Rugby from 2016 until 2020 before financial difficulties forced their dissolution. Since 2019, the semi-professional Super Rugby Americas competition has offered a development pathway for emerging players.

One notable success story involves Leicester Tigers back-row Joaquin Moro, who transitioned from Pampas XV and featured in last season’s Premiership semi-final during his debut campaign. Contepomi highlighted the pathway’s importance: “Super Rugby Americas is growing every year and I think that’s a good pathway for developing professional habits and preparing players.” He noted that approximately 20 players have moved through these franchises to reach the Pumas over the past two years.

Contepomi drew parallels between rugby and football excellence, citing Messi’s qualities as inspiration. “Excellence, consistency and resilience,” he stated, identifying consistency as the crucial element. Argentina currently holds seventh place in the world rankings and recently faced Scotland in their opening Nations Championship fixture, where they were outclassed despite having defeated the Scots in November.

A significantly improved display against Wales has positioned the Pumas favorably for their final group match against Steve Borthwick’s England. The team, which defeated both New Zealand and Australia in last year’s Rugby Championship, managed only three training sessions together before their Scotland loss due to logistical complications arising from having most squad members competing across both hemispheres.

“Those are our challenges and that’s our reality,” the Argentina head coach added. “We don’t use it as an excuse. It’s simply our reality and we have to make the best of it.”

Looking ahead, Contepomi expressed ambition for sustained excellence. “We would love to be consistently in the world’s top four, and that’s what we’re working towards through our behaviours, our habits and the way we come together as a team.” He acknowledged that while semi-final appearances demonstrate capability, true top-four status requires proving it annually through world rankings performance.

England arrives with momentum, having won twice in Argentina last summer to secure a series victory and extend their winning streak over the Pumas to five consecutive matches. Their overall record shows one victory in the past 16 encounters, suggesting this fixture promises to be a compelling contest between two nations with rich sporting traditions.