Argentina is the only Rugby World Cup semi finalist to have never hosted a Rugby World Cup.
By 2023 Europe will have hosted four Rugby World Cup´s, Oceania three, Africa one, Asia one and the Americas zero.
The Americas deserve to host a Rugby World Cup. In addition to being the home of world power, Argentina, the region also has three other countries that have competed at Rugby World Cup's. In fact, Argentina are not the only rugby power in South Americas. Uruguay are a two time participant at the Rugby World Cup. Uruguay qualified for Rugby World Cup 1999 and 2003 and won one match in both tournaments. In 1999, Los Teros defeated Spain 27-15 and in 2003 they defeated Georgia 24-12. Uruguay failed to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2007 after losing to Portugal on 24-23 on aggregate. Losing second rower Juan Bado to a red card early in the first half of the home match proved decisive. Had he not committed the offence his side would most likely have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007.
Qualification for Rugby World Cup 2011 has almost finished. As bronze medalists from France 2007, Argentina qualify automatically. Canada have qualified as Americas 1, the USA as Americas 2 and Uruguay as Americas 3 now enter the final phase of qualification with the opportunity of being the final team to qualify. Uruguay are Americas 3 because they won CONSUR 2009 after defeating the other two South American finalists - Brazil and Chile. Uruguay latter lost to the USA in the battle for Americas 2 and now have one last chance of qualifying for New Zealand 2011 but it will not be easy. Firstly, Uruguay will play against Kazakhstan (Asia 2) with the winner to play against the winner of Romania (Europe 3) vs Tunisia (Africa 2). It is probable that Uruguay and Romania will advance to the final. Dates are yet to be announced but the games are to be in 2010.
The USA will now have four players in the 2010-2011 Guinness Premiership with the news that English club, Sale Sharks have signed USA Eagles scrumhalf, Mike Petri. 25 year old Petri will be in competition with Welsh international scrum-half Dwayne Peel and the English pair of Will Cliff and Chris Leck.
Petri has played 15 tests for the USA, most recently vs Russia in this months Churchill Cup. He made his test debut as a replacement vs South Africa in Montpellier during Rugby World Cup 2007 and his move to Sale Sharks will go a long way to helping him be the USA´s first choice 9 at New Zealand 2011.
In the 2010-2011 Aviva Premiership there will be three players from North America, all of whom are from the USA. Given that it is the last season before Rugby World Cup 2011, the Aviva Premiership is going to be highly significant for the USA Eagles. For the spectators it is bound to be exciting with three of the country´s best players trying their best to secure their places in New Zealand 2011.
USA Eagles prop, Mike MacDonald will play another season for Leeds Carnegie as he tries to get back into the USA national team. The San Francisco native needs a strong season because other props have been prefered to the 58 test veteran in recent international matches. MacDonald is bound to benefit from the arrival of Argentine prop Miguel Alonso from Italy and Spanish prop Jesus Moreno Rodriguez from Spain.
USA Eagles second-rower Hayden Smith will be looking for more game time this season for defeated finalists from the 2009-2010 season, Saracens. Smith was not part of the USA Eagles team at this years Churchill Cup but did play in both Rugby World Cup Qualifying tests in november. Smith made his USA debut in 2008 and has played 10 tests so far.
Eagles wing / fullback Chris Wyles will also be playing for Saracens. Both Smith and Wyles are certainties to make the Eagles squad for Rugby World Cup 2011. Wyles has been a great player for the club, scoring some great tries including the second for Saracens in the 2010 Guinness Premiership semi final victory vs Northampton. Wyles also had a very good Churchill Cup, scoring two tries against Russia.
There will also be a number of North American test internationals playing in the RFU Championship this season, including players from Canada, the USA and Barbados. The United States will have three international players in the RFU Championship.
Two of them are scrum-halves - Robbie Shaw will be playing for Bristol and Tim Usasz for Nottingham. Usasz was a member of the USA Eagles for the 2010 Churchill Cup and needs a strong season to earn his place in the Eagles squad for Rugby World Cup 2011.
New London-Welsh signing, Shawn Pittman, is joining the team from the Bayside Sharks in Vancouver, Canada.
It is not only Argentina who merit hosting a Rugby World Cup it is the Americas as a whole. If Argentina were to host Rugby World Cup 2023 it would be the first time ever that the Americas had hosted and it would be great not just for Argentina but for the entire region. Besides Argentina, the region has three other countries who have participated at Rugby World Cup´s - Canada, Uruguay and the United States of America. All three have left their mark on Rugby World Cup history in different ways.
Canada were quarter finalists at Rugby World Cup 1991. In qualifying for the Quarter Finals, Canada defeated Fiji 13-03 and Romania 19-11. Canada were actually a better team than Argentina in the first half of the 1990´s. Canada defeated Argentina in qualification for both Rugby World Cup 1991 and 1995 to qualify as Americas 1. On both occasions, Argentina qualified as Americas 2. During this time, Canada were a World Class team. They defeated world powers including Wales 26-24 in Cardiff in 1993 and France 18-16 in Nepean in 1994.
Since 1991, Canada have not been able to reach the quarter finals stage at a Rugby World Cup but they have always put in strong performances at every tournament. In 1995 Canada defeated Romania 34-03, in 1999 Canada defeated Namibia 72-11, in 2003 Canada defeated Tonga 24-07 and in 2007 the Canadians drew 12-12 with Japan amd almost puilled off a massive upset vs Wales.
In the recently completed 2010 Churchill Cup, Canada performed extremely well in defeating Uruguay and France A but lost the final to the England Saxons. It was the first time in the history of the tournament that a North American team had made the final.
Canada will face France, Japan, New Zealand and Tonga at Rugby World Cup 2011 and will be targeting wins against Japan and Tonga which would see them qautomatically qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015. With emerging stars such as flyhalf Matt Evans and backrower Chauncey O'Toole coming through the ranks they will certainly rate their chances.
The upcoming 2010-2011 Magners League will be expanded from ten to twelve teams with two Italian teams, Aironi and Benetton Treviso, entering the competition. The tournament will also feature more players from Argentina which will give fans in all four Magners League countries the chance to see Argentine players in action.
Scottish rugby´s big performer of the 2009-2010 season, the Glasgow Warriors will have two Pumas in their squad for the new season. Former Pumas fullback, Bernardo Stortoni, will be playing his fourth season for the club and will be joined by centre / wing, Federico Martín Aramburu who joins the club after playing in France for the past six years for Biarritz, Perpignan and Dax. Stortoni was dropped from Los Pumas in 2008 and has since not been selected for the national team. Aramburu, was dropped for the 2010 June Tests but played wing for Argentina A vs France. Aramburu scored two tries at Rugby World Cup 2007 - one vs Georgia and one vs France in the Bronze Final.
After three years in France playing for Toulon, Pumas second-rower Esteban Lozada has left the club to join Edinburgh. Capped 16 times for Argentina, Lozada will be looking for a strong season, like Aramburu, to try to get back into favour with Pumas coach, Santiago Phelan.
Italian powerhouses, Benetton Treviso will have two Argentine players - hooker Diego Vidal and prop Augusto Allori. Neither player has played for Los Pumas. The team will also have Argentine born and current first choice Italian centre, Gonzalo Garcia.
The second new addition to the Magners League, Aironi have signed Argentine prop, Matías Agüero from Saracens. Agüero, like Garcia plays for Italy not his country of origin, Argentina.
Argentina responded to their highly unexpected two test loses against Scotland in the best possible way by defeating European champions, France 41-13 in Buenos Aires. Argentina´s seasoned forwards responded to the criticism and led from the front to out class the highly fancied French forwards.
Flyhalf and captain Felipe Contepomi proved that his career is far from over with two tries and a personal total of 31 points. Argentina scored two additional tries, one each to backrower Juan Fernández Lobbe and right winger Rafael Carballo, who was playing his first run on test since November 2008. French Wing, Julien Malzieu scored for Les Bleus.
The win was Argentina´s fourth in a row vs France in Argentina and the seventh win in the previous nine matches. It further underlines Argentina as a powerful rugby country and the strongest country to never have hosted a Rugby World Cup.
The upcoming European rugby season (2010-2011) will feature elite rugby players from Argentina and the Americas region as a whole. In England, there will be nine Argentine players playing at the top level in the Aviva Premiership which is the new name for what was previously known as the Guinness Premiership. Of the championships 12 clubs, 5 will have players from Argentina. More players may sign before the season begins or during the season itself.
Guinness Premiership champions, Leicester Tigers, have three Pumas all of whom are current Pumas and are all highly likely to be in the team for Rugby World Cup 2011. Of the three players the most well known is loosehead prop, Marcos Ayerza who was voted prop of the year for the 2008-2009 Guinness Premiership. The 2010-2011 season will be his fifth season at the club. With Leicester, he has won both the Guinness Premiership and the Heineken Cup. Ayerza debuted for Argentina in 2004 and has played 29 tests.
Pumas wing, Lucas Gonzalez Amorisino, a graduate of Argentina Sevens Rugby has extended his contract with Leicester for the 2010-2011 season. The 24 year old is known in Argentina as Speedy Gonzalez not simply by chance. He debuted for Argentina vs England in 2009 and will be looking to have a strong season to secure his place in the Pumas squad for Rugby World Cup 2011. He scored the games only try in Leicester´s history making win vs South Africa in November 2009.
For the new season Amorisino and Ayerza will be joined by Pumas fullback / wing Horacio Agulla who has signed a two year contract to join Leicester from French club, Brive. In a move which could benefit him greatly he will have the opportunity of playing with Amorisino which will benefit both Agulla and los Pumas. Agulla captained Argentina vs Chile and Uruguay in May 2010.
London´s Halequins will have three Argentine players, two of whom are fully capped internationals. Wing, Gonzalo Camacho will be playing his second season for the club as will second rower Tomas Vallejos Cinalli who joined the club midway through last season. Despite being uncapped, Vallejos Cinalli represented Argentina in the U17, U18, U20 and U23 age groups. The pair will be joined by flyhalf / inside centre, Benjamin Urdapilleta who will join from Buenos Aires club CUBA and Los Pampas XV who competed in the 2010 Vodacom Cup in South Africa. Urdapilleta has been playing for Los Jaguars mainly because other players have been prefered for Los Pumas. His move to Harelquins will help him greatly in his efforts to make the World Cup squad. Fellow Harlequin, Gonzalo Camacho, will be in competition with Agulla and Amorisino for a place at Rugby World Cup 2011. All three could go, the form of them in the Guinness Premiership will decide who goes and who does not. It is therefore a great chance for English fans to watch them fight for spots in their national team.
Based in Surrey, London Irish is the club of first choice Pumas scrum-half, Alfredo Lalanne who in 2010-2011 will be playing his third season for the club. Despite being the first choice for los Pumas, Lalanne has stiff competition from Agustin Figuerola and Nicolas Vergallo and needs a strong season to maintain the 9 shirt.
Northern English club, Leeds Carnegie will have two Argentine props in the squad for the new season. Juan Francisco Gomez has extended his stay at the club and will be joined by Miguel Alonso who is joining from Italian club Rugby Viadana. Gomez has played four times for Argentina since making his debut vs Italy in 2006 and needs a very strong season to get back into the Pumas team. During this period, he has been playing for Argentina A and Los Jaguars.
With an impressive list of rugby players playing in England, the idea of bringing Rugby World Cup 2023 to Argentina should be supported by English rugby fans who get to see these players play every week.
As one of seven stadiums used by Argentina to host the 1978 FIFA World Cup, the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, formerly known as Estadio Córdoba, the Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, or the Estadio Olímpico in Córdoda appears to be a as a certainly to host matches should Argentina host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It was construced in 1976 for the pupose of hosting matches in Córdoba for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The stadium hosted 8 out of the tournaments 38 matches, or 21% of the tournaments matches. Since 1978 it has continued to host matches of high profile soccer tournaments that have taken place in Argentina such as the 1987 Copa América, the 2001 World FIFA Junior Championship and it hosted matches in the Copa América again in 2011. The stadium was renovated for the Copa America, giving the city of Córdoba a vastly improved stadium.
In addition to having an extensive history in soccer, the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes has also hosted international rugby. Argentina have played three international matches at the stadium. The first vs Fiji in 2003, followed by Argentina vs Italy in 2008. For the 2008 match Argentina were without a large number of key players because of the yet to finish long club season in France which started directly after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In a low scoring match Italy scored a controversial try late in the match and kicked the conversion to win 13-12. Los Pumas got revenge several months latter in November 2008 in Italy, defeating the Italians 22-14 in Torino. The stadium hosted its next test in June 2012 with Argentina defeating France 23-20 and doing so with a team consisting of reserves and fringe players.
With a capacity of 57,000 the stadium is large enough to host quarter final matches. In comparison to Wellington which hosted two Quarter Finals in New Zealand both 2011,. Córdoba is a more attractive potion in terms of capacity and the size of the city. Córdoba ´strong crowd for its home match vs France in June 2012 is certain to see the venue host matches much more frequently than previously. It is certain to be a host venue for matches in the Rugby Championship. The tournament will likely see the venue, along with others, underline the credentials of Argentina as the country to host Rugby World Cup 2023. The staidum could be a similar host city to the likes of Melbourne for Rugby World Cup 2003, Marseilles for Rugby World Cup 2007 or Wellington for Rugby World Cup 2011.
The city of Córdoba is the second largest in Argentina after the capital, Buenos Aires. With a population of 1.3 million it is a city rich in history dating back to 1573 and is famous for its spanish architecture. It is also a very beautiful city surrounded by mountains and is considered to be one of the most beautiful regions of the country.
Córdoba is located in central Argentina. Unlike all other potential host cities it belongs neither to the west nor the east. To complicate matters further, despite being in the northern half of the country it is not far enough north to be called northern Argentina. It is located 700KM northwest of Buenos Aires and 400KM west of Rosario. It is 465KM east of Mendoza, 410KM east of San Juan and 520KM south of Tucuman. It is therefore not close to any other potential host city but has the advantage of being central as it could act as a bridge between them. It could be used to stage 4 of 5 pool matches in an identical way to the above mentioned cities from 2003, 2007 and 2011. Fans would therefore be able to follow their teams and take in 3 or 4 different cities going from east to west or vice versa.
Argentine flyhalf, Ignacio Rodríguez Muedra, was one of four finalists for the IRB Junior World Championship player of the tournament. The other three finalists were New Zealand wing, Julian Savea who scored a hat-trick (three tries) in the final in which New Zealand defeated Australia. Two Australians were also nominated for the award - flyhalf Tyler Bleyendaal and centre Robbie Coleman.
Julian Savea won the award following the championship victory for the men in black and amazingly it was the third time in a row that New Zealand have won the Junior World Championship.
Interestingly, all four nominess for player of the year went to backs.
This month three international teams from the Americas were in action in the USA competing with three others in the eighth annual Churchill Cup. Denver had the honor of hosting all pool matches at the USA´s first ever rugby stadium, Infinity Park. The tournament was divided into two pools with Canada, France A and Uruguay in Pool A and England Saxons, Russia and the USA in pool B. The winners of the two pools met in the Cup Final with the runners up battling it out for the Plate Final and the third placed sides from the pools meeting in the Bowl Final. All three finals were played at the Red Bull Arena in Newark, New Jersey.
The North American teams both perfomed well in their first match, defeating Russia and Uruguay. In a highly entertaining match, in which Russia proved that they are a team to watch, the lead swaped hands regularly until the USA pulled away in the final 20 minutes to win 39-22. Remarkably, it was the first ever test match between the USA and Russia to be played in the USA and only the third match between the two overall. Future clashes are a certainty. Russia and the USA are both in Pool C of Rugby World Cup 2011 alongside Australia, Ireland and Italy. The Rugby World Cup clash between the former Cold War superpowers is an exciting prospect.
Canada´s 48-06 win over Uruguay is a record win and means that Uruguay have only won one of their eight matches against Canada. It was the start of a special tournament for the Canadians but a lesson for Los Teros who must adopt a better attacking game if they are to improve.
In the second round Canada exceeded all expectations in defeating France A, a fully professional team, 33-27 in a thrilling match. The win meant that Canada would appear in the Churchill Cup final for the first time in the tournaments eight year history. The USA were overpowered by the England Saxons who had come off a good win vs Russia. The result meant the USA finished second and would face France A in the Plate Final. Uruguay were well beaten by France A which meant they finished their in the pool and would meet Russia in the Bowl Final.
In the Cup Final the professional experiences of the England Saxons proved the difference with Nick Abendanon and Alex Goode both scoring tries and Stephen Myler kicking goals to give the English a 17-0 lead after 11 minutes. Canada, however, responded with Matt Evans and Chauncey O'Toole both scoring to bring the score to 17-10 after 20 minutes. The England Saxons kicked two penalties and Canada one for the score to be 23-13 at half time. With two tries to the English Canada were out of the game after 60 minutes but a late try to replacement center, Ryan Smith, meant the game finished with 38-18 a win to the English.
France A bounced back from defeat to Canada to defeat the USA 24-10 in the Plate Final. The score line does not do justice to the performance of the USA Eagles. In a competitive first half, the USA scored first with a try to Stade Françãis wing Julien Arias. Scott Lavalla scored a beautiful try for the USA to bring scores to 7 all. Following a period of pick and go on the American line, French prop, Yannick Forestier scored a try to put the French 14-7 ahead at half time. After the break Nese Malifa kicked a penatly to narrow the lead to four points but Lionel Beauxis soon kicked a penalty for the visitors. The Eagles were only one try behind for 30 minutes of the second half but a second try to Julien Arias late in the match gave the visitors the win. For the hosts, there is plenty of reason to be happy with strong performances from Zee Ngwenya, Chris Wyles and Scott Lavalla.
Russia showed their strength in toppling the two time Rugby World Cup participants, Uruguay, 38-19 to win the Bowl Final. With tries to Vasily Artemyev, Victor Gresev, Alexander Yanyushkin and Alexey Makovetskiy and three conversions, Russia had an impressive 26-5 lead at half time. Uruguay improved their defense after the interval and Juan DeFreitas and Manuel Martinez both scored tries but the Russian Bears were always in control.
Argentina earned their place in the fifth place play-off final in the most dramatic fashion. Late in the match Wales had the lead only for flyhalf, and one of four candidades for player of the tournament, Ignacio Rodriguez Muedra to equalize the scores at 19-19. With scores tied at full time the match went into extra time but with neither team able to score further points the game was concluded with a penalty shoot out - the first ever in the history of the IRB Junior World Championship.
Kicks were taken from in front of the posts, to the left and to the right and all from the 22 metre line. After both teams succeded in kicking their first 8 goals Welsh scrumhalf, Rhys Downes, missed from right of the posts to give Argentina the advantage. Argentine winger, Fernando Luna then succeded in kicking from the same spot to win the match for Argentina on a kicking differential of 9-8.
In Japan 2009 Argentina finished in eleventh position and in Wales 2008 Argentina were knocked out by France in a semi-final battle for fifth place. In other words, in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship Argentina have already finished higher than the other two tournaments played until now.
France had a far simplier match and proved too strong for Fiji scoring five tries to zero to win the match 44-09. Both matches were played at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López in Santa Fé. The play-off for fifth place will be played at this venue on Monday, June 21.
Argentina and France have set up a rematch of their pool clash, which France won 31-23, after both teams won their respective play-offs matches vs Wales and Fiji. In doing so, the youth of both teams will have the chance to face the junior version of what has become a huge rivalry at international level. Memories of the senior sides at Rugby World Cup 2007 should provide motivation for both countries.
Argentina hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens from January 26–28 in Mar del Plata in 2001. This was the first time a major rugby tournament had been held in South America. The tournament was won by New Zealand who fielded a star-studed team including players such as Mils Muliaina, Rodney So´oialo and Jonah Lomu who scored three tries in the final. The tournament was a success with over 40,000 people atending the three day tournament. Hosts, Argentina with a few stars of their own including Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi, exceeded expectations in defeating South Africa 14-12 in the quarter finals but New Zealand were too strong for them in the semi´s.
The Estadio José María Minella was build in 1976 and was one of seven stadiums used for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. It hosted six matches, including high profile games such as France vs Italy and Brazil vs Spain. The stadium has a capacity of 35,354 making it comparable to Toulouse which hosted four matches in Rugby World Cup 2007. It also hosted the 1995 Pan American Games.
Los Pumas have also played two international rugby matches at the Estadio José María Minella, vs Spain in 1987 and vs Scotland in 2010. It is likely to host matches more regularly with Argentina to double the number of home tests every year from three to six when they join the Southern Hemisphere´s premier rugby competition, the Tri Nations, in 2012. The venue would be more than capable of hosting four matches should Argentina host a Rugby World Cup.
Mar del Plata is located 400KM south of the country´s capital, Buenos Aires. It is the seventh largest city in Argentina with a population close to 600,000 and is a popular summer destination. As a previous host of Soccer World Cup matches, the Pan American Games, Rugby World Cup Sevens and international rugby matches it is ideally suited to hosting matches should Argentina host Rugby World Cup 2023.
Argentina showed in hosting England in June 2009 that northern Argentina´s city of Salta is another which has the capability of acting as a successful stadium for Argentina in rugby matches. The match was a success for the city with a vibrant and vocal crowd present which is a recipe for success should Argentina have the honor of hosting a Rugby World Cup. Argentina won 24-22. It was the second rugby test held there following Argentina´s 35-21 victory over Italy in 2005. The 2009 victory featured newcomers Gonzalo Camacho and Lucas González Amorsino who have gone on to be big name players. Juan Martín Hernández had a solid match.
The Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena at present has a capacity of approximately 20,400 which makes it larger than several venues used in New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011. It was constructed for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, hosting seven matches. If Argentina were to host the World Cup the venue could be upgraded to accomodate larger audiences.
Salta has a population of over 460,000 and is located 220KM north of Argentina´s rugby heartland, Tucuman and is Argentina's ninth largest city. The proximity of Salta to San Salvador de Jujuy (68KM to the north) and San Miguel de Tucumán provides the Rugby World Cup with three different northern Argentine cities which could each host matches. The benefit of this to the World Cup itself is that teams and fans alike would be able to move between these northern cities to take in pool matches featuring their team. It has the ability of being organized to host up to three matches of certain teams in a similar manner to Bordeaux-Toulouse-Montpellier in 2007 or Invercargill-Dunedin-Christchurch which will be used in 2011. Salta could be used much like Napier, which will host Canada vs France and Canada vs Japan, for Rugby World Cup 2011. It could host two or three pool matches.
Upon being selected as host for the 2010 IRB Junior World Cup, Argentine authorities set out to ensure that they would put on a great event. The UAR opted to stage matches at three venues in the eastern Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Santa Fé. The decision was made to take the event inland from Buenos Aires but to to the stronghold region of Argentine rugby - the north. Potential reasons for this decision are the superior stadiums, proximity of the venues to one another and the opportunity of taking an important tournament to Argentina´s east in an effort to promote rugby in the region.
The decision has proven to have been a very good one with record attendance numbers for the opening days matches. On the opening day over 30,000 fans attended the matches, including over 16,000 for France vs Ireland and Argentina vs England which were both held at the Estadio Newell´s Old Boy´s in Rosario. Sadly for home fans, Argentina were overpowered by England´s team 48-22. Large crowds were also recorded at the Estadio BrigadierGeneral Estanislao López in Santa Fé which attracted a crowd of 10,000 for two matches and Paraná which attracted 4,000 fans.
The attendance figures for the opening weekend are double that of Wales 2008 and Japan 2009 which underlines the strength of Argentina as a potential host for a future Rugby World Cup. Moreover, Wales were hosts of the 1999 Rugby World Cup and Japan will host the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Americas need not wait any longer. 2023 is the time for the Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Argentina.
The province of Tucumán is considered to be the heartland of Argentine rugby. Rugby is more popular than soccer in the province and the province has a strong rugby team known as Los Naranjas (oranges). Los Naranjas won the Campeonato Argentino in 2010 after defeating Rosario 19-13 in the final. The city has produced many Pumas including 2007 World Cup prop Omar Hasan, 2011´ Julio Farías Cabello and the top try scorer in Argentine rugby history, José Maria Nuñez Piossek.
At present the capacity of the Estadio Monumental Presidente José Fierro has a capacity of 32,700. It is in need of renovation and, indeed, the stadium is scheduled to be upgraded to have modern facilities and a larger capacity. Using the stadiums in New Zealand as a comparison, Tucumán would appear to be a complete candidade to host matches should a Rugby World Cup be played in Argentina. It could host up to four pool matches and even one key match similar to Dunedin which hosted both Ireland vs Italy and Argentina vs England in Rugby World Cup 2011.
On June the 12th 2010, Argentina hosted Scotland in an international rugby match at the Estadio Monumental Presidente José Fierro in San Miguel de Tucumán. Despite taking place on the same day as Argentina vs Nigeria in the FIFA World Cup, the match was a great success registering an attendance of 32,000. Being able to attract a crowd of this size speaks wonders for the popularity of rugby in Argentina and underlines the city of Tucumán as a host city should Argentina host a Rugby World Cup. Despite having a vocal crowd cheer on the home team, Scotland won the match 24-16. The loss marked the first ever loss for Los Pumas in Tucumán. Two yeas latter, Los Pumas returned to Tucumán, this time taking on France. Argentina fielded a weakened side with 24 players being rested ahead of The Rugby Championship. France impressed in completing a 49-10 victory. Despite the depleted Pumas team the people of Tucumán, again filled the stadium.
Although the name of the city is San Miguel de Tucumán it is commonly refered to simply as Tucumán. With a population of almost 800,000 it is the largest city in northern Argentina and the fifth largest in the country. It is located 500KM north of Córdoba and 1300KM from Buenos Aires. Despite the huge distances between larger cities and Tucumán, travel will not be a problem. In the 2003 World Cup in Australia, England and Samoa both travelled a staggering 2700KM from Perth to Melbourne for their pool match.
A World Cup must take in as much of the host country as possible. Tucumán could be joined by Salta and / or Jujuy as host cities representing Northern Argentina. Visiting teams could play 2 or 3 matches within the region and play their key matches outside the region in larger venues such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mar del Plata or Rosario. The schedule could be organized for Tucumán to host a team such as Scotland for its first two pool matches and for that team to them play once in Salta or Jujuy before flying to Buenos Aires to play its final match. Similarly, a team playing in Córdoba or even Santá Fe (700KM away) could travel to the north for their final pool match. Distances can seem big but they need to be taken with comparisons. One such example is that of 2007 when Argentina played Namibia in Marselle and then Ireland in Paris the following weekend. The distance between the two is 770KM. A trip to the north would be a great experience for visiting fans and players.
In 2007 Argentina played its first ever international rugby match in the city of Santa Fé. The match was a tremendous success with Argentina defeating Ireland 22-20 in the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López in front of a large crowd. Despite the match taking place before the end of the French season, which meant Argentina had an understrength team, fans responded and got to see the home team begin its run which would result in a third place finish at France 2007 four months latter.
The stadium was selected as one of three venues to host the 2010 IRB Junior World Cup alongside venues in Paraná and Rosario and hosted a total of 10 matches. The relatively close proximity of Rosario, Santa Fé and possibly Corrientes and Paraná means that the region could be used as a hub representing the north east of Argentina with connections between the potential venues being simple which would make it easy for visiting fans and for competing teams alike.
With a current capacity of 32,500 the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López is larger than all but three venues to be used in New Zealand for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The stadium was opened in 1946 and with minor upgrades would be a fantastic stadium to host Rugby World Cup matches. It could be used in a similar fashion to the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux for the 2007 Rugby World Cup which hosted four pool matches - Ireland vs Namibia, Ireland vs Georgia, Canada vs Japan and Australia vs Canada.
The city of Santa Fé has a population of 455,000, making it Argentina´s eighth largest city. It is located 150KM north of Argentina's third largest city, Rosario and 450KM from Buenos Aires.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was remarkable for both the country of Argentina and the sport of rugby. The national rugby team, commonly known as, Los Pumas made history in defeating historically powerful teams including France, Ireland and Scotland on way to finishing third. This result was no small achievement. It was massive as it meant that Argentina finished the World Cup ahead of highly fancied teams including Australia, New Zealand and hosts France. All have previously hosted the World Cup. In fact, Argentina are the only team to reach the Rugby World Cup semi finals who have not yet hosted a Rugby World Cup.
Following the success of 2007 the sport in Argentina has grown to give the country, at present, over 91,000 registered players. The sport itself, is on track to become a fully professional sport in Argentina. Los Pumas are now able to play in any city in Argentina and fill the stadiums. Since the World Cup this is precisely what has happened as the profile of the national team has resulted in rugby growing to previously impossible heights. It is this success combined with the history of rugby in the country which perfectly demonstrates the merits of Argentina hosting a Rugby World Cup.
Los Pumas are to enter the Southern Hemisphere's premier rugby tournament, the Tri Nations in 2012. They will therefore play Australia, New Zealand and South Africa home and away annually. The opportunity to host these elite rugby country's in venues across the country will further underline the merits of Argentina hosting a World Cup. 2023 looms as the ideal time for Argentina to host a Rugby World Cup because, aside from being the first time that it would have been hosted in the Americas, it would mark more than a decade of Argentina's involvement in the Tri Nations. With England hosting in 2015 and Japan in 2019, it would logically be time for a Southern hemispere country to host in 2023. Given that at this time Oceania would have hosted three World Cup's, Africa one, Asia one and Europe four, the Americas as a region will merit hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup due to this fact alone.
With a population of 41 million and a friendly timezone which would enable games to take place at times which are good for powerhouse rugby countries from Africa, Europe and Oceania, the question is not why should Argentina host a Rugby World Cup. Rather the question is, why shouldn't they?
