South America is the growth area for rugby
Roar Guru By Working Class Rugger, 25 Jan 2011 Working Class Rugger is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Argentina rugby, Argentina Rugby Union, Brazil, chile, rugby, Rugby Union, south america, South America rugby
While only possessing a small playing population of 147,187 players on the continent, with around 100,000 of those within Argentina, rugby and South America both have tremendous potential to grow together into a great playing region.
With eight active nations competing annually in either the CONSUR A (Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay) or B (Peru, Columbia and Venezuela) championships, the game’s potential on the continent is only held back by the lack of resources, not enthusiasm.
Argentina are the obvious success story as we are all aware of, but the rapid emergence of the likes of Chile, Brazil and Columbia are proving that Latin America and the game they play in heaven are truly a matched made there.
All three have seen remarkable progress over the last five or so years, with each boasting significant and growing player populations. Chile with 18,755, Brazil with 10,130 and Columbia with 5,414 provides the ideal opportunity alongside Uruguay for rugby to really push development outside of the regional powerhouse that is Argentina.
Most encouragingly all four Unions are not resting on the laurels waiting for the IRB to come to them, but are actively looking to build their constituencies through grassroots development programs.
While both Chile and Uruguay have been the next best behind Argentina for some time, now both Brazil and Columbia have serious intentions of not only one day knocking these two off their perches but fronting up against Los Pumas.
In fact, both Unions have made inroads with significant assistance of both government support and increasing sponsorship investment. Coupled with clever marketing campaigns such as the Topper endorsed Brazilian Federation ads awareness of the game has grown, as has the numbers of clubs and players.
In Chile’s case the hosting of the inaugural Junior World Rugby Trophy has seen the game progress, particularly at the junior levels far beyond many within its Union could have imagined.
While they still play second fiddle to Uruguay with the size of their player base and current growth, they will soon provide strong competition for their South American neighbours. With greater levels of investment, Chile could truly be a nation to watch out for well into the future.
Uruguay, with a significantly smaller participation level than both Brazil and Chile, still produces the highest quality talent outside of Argentina. This should remain the status quo at least in the short to medium term, however, simply stagnating will eventually lead to their rapid descent in standing amongst South American rugby powers.
Fortunately, they do possess an active Union looking to expand their base by 100 per cent to over 10,000 registered players and to once again qualify for a future RWC. Their programs are numerous in their intention and target demographics from prisoners to schoolkids. The net is being cast far and wide to greater strengthen their game moving forward.
Peru has also begun to experience growth but still possess a much smaller player base, 950 registered players, in fact.
Although, as demonstrated by their victorious CONSUR B campaign defeating both Columbia (2009 champions) and Venezuela, the quality of their rugby has come on dramatically in the last 12 months.
I’m afraid I am unable to shed more light on either Paraguay or Venezuela, which is unfortunate as developments in both these nations would be interesting to learn about.
Latin American fits the mould for rugby more so than perhaps Asia or Africa, where rugby is making a push for acceptance and profile. Outside of Europe, South America is one of rugby’s greatest growth opportunities.
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January 25th 2011 @ 5:14am
Ross said | January 25th 2011 @ 5:14am | Report comment
Three things-
1- Is there any television coverage in these countries as far as you know? I’m aware that Uruguay’s RWC games were broadcast in 1999 but is there any more regular coverage?
2- Do you think a regular Pan American competition could be viable (perhaps with partial IRB funding)?
3- As a long time lurker and first time poster to this site, may I just say how much I enjoy your efforts to find out what is happening in rugby outside of the established powers and I hope you and others keep doing it. The growth of the game in Latin America, North America & Eastern Europe is fascinating to behold.
January 25th 2011 @ 6:24am
The Bush said | January 25th 2011 @ 6:24am | Report comment
WCR,
It consistently fascinates me how Chile seem incapable of closing the gap with Uruguay (and then overtaking). For at least the last five years their player base has been twice Uruguaya, whilst they have also been regulars in Argentinas provincial tournaments. They also have a long history in the sport…
I believe that Uruguaya success is built on two factors;
a) They have more European based professionals and semi-professionals; and
b) Uruguays proximity to Buenos Aires, quite possible one of the most powerful rugby centers on Earth…
I agree with your assessment however that in the long term as more professionalism is adopted in the region then surely Chile’s numerical superiority will eventually see it become the No 2 (unless Brazil comes from the back of the pack – not impossible).
Paraguay are a shame because as far as I was aware they were traditionally mch stronger than Brazil or Columbia…
January 25th 2011 @ 8:44am
kovana said | January 25th 2011 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Yes it is surprising that chile still hasnt taken over Uruguay in the Rugby stakes.
Even Right now Chile has nearly 5000 Senior Players…. while Uruguay has just over 1200..
However the that gap will surely close in a few short years.
In the Junior ranks Chile has over 13’000 junior males… While uruguay only has just over 4000…
Future looks bright for Chile rugby.
January 25th 2011 @ 9:47pm
The Bush said | January 25th 2011 @ 9:47pm | Report comment
Yes the future does look bright, at the moment.
At lot on the continent hangs on when and how Argentina professionalises. If a professional competition in Argentina ever eventuates it will enable Chilean, Uruguayan and other South American players to play professionally close to home and at a level more comparable to their skills (compared to top flight Euorope or SupeRugby). Hopefully in time they will also be able to enter their own local, professional teams in this competition. If it ever happens of course…
January 26th 2011 @ 8:38am
kovana said | January 26th 2011 @ 8:38am | Report comment
I was under the impression they launched a semi pro comp in Argentina in 2009.
January 25th 2011 @ 6:35am
Untimelyzapped said | January 25th 2011 @ 6:35am | Report comment
WC Rugger – don’t forget our nearest south-of-the-border neighbors. A 2009 Sevens tourney was held in Mexico City – 13 male and 5 female teams from the SA/Carib area participated – and the event got some publicity. Recently the Oaxaca club held some games on the Dia de los Muertos holiday. Locals and ex-pats play on the Cancun team. But rugby development in this country of 113 million is awfully slow.
Chile did surprisingly well against Oz in San Diego. You can view two of their tries on You Tube. But it’s Brazil that could bust out one day because they’ve got the money.
Ross – a north-south Pan American comp has long been talked about. Canada, the US, and on down to Santiago/BA/Lima/Montevideo/Rio/Caracas/Mexico City. Pie in the sky stuff for the moment.
January 28th 2011 @ 7:32pm
p.Tah said | January 28th 2011 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
Mexico has been invited play at the Hong Kong 7s
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/international/internationalnews/mexico-to-hong-kong-7s.aspx
January 28th 2011 @ 7:53pm
Working Class Rugger said | January 28th 2011 @ 7:53pm | Report comment
Will be a big step up for the Mexicans but is an impressive sign on exactly how much the game has progressed considering it only really begun to re-build after a very long dormant period a few years ago.
January 25th 2011 @ 7:22am
King of the Gorgonites said | January 25th 2011 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Of course the biggest development in SA rugby is the inclusion of Argentina into an expanded 4 nations. year in year out competition against the three best rugby nations will undoubtly lift the standard of argentine rugby, whilst increasing incredibly the exposure of rugby into south america. i for one cant wait for this exciting new tournament.
January 25th 2011 @ 7:52am
Rickety Knees said | January 25th 2011 @ 7:52am | Report comment
Another great and very interesting post WCR – thanks for your efforts!
January 25th 2011 @ 8:16am
Nihiláinm said | January 25th 2011 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Im form brazil and we have some TV coverage of European rugby by some paid TV sports channels like ESPN. RWC here is broadcasted since 2003. RWC 2007 was a huge success on ESPN Brasil. Latin ESPN shows in spanish, tournments like Top 14, H Cup, some argentina championships games and Super Rugby play offs most live. Here in Brazil we speak portuguese for that reason we dont have too much live coverage of this competitions like our neghbours. With the 4 Nations and the inclusion of 7s in the olympics is almost imposible rugby dont become a professional sport here in South America.
January 27th 2011 @ 9:01pm
GavinH said | January 27th 2011 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
interesting update Nihiláinm. What is the 4 nations you mention?
January 28th 2011 @ 12:22pm
kovana said | January 28th 2011 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
I think he is referring to the 4 nations tournament that will kick off in 2012.
It will have NZ, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
January 25th 2011 @ 8:53am
kovana said | January 25th 2011 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Great article again WCR! These articles are the ones i enjoy reading since they actually put up figures on playing figures for each respective nation.
Some notes i could gather.
1. Venezuela has 2415 registered players..1650 are senior male players. They are ranked 59th.
2. Paraguay has 3568 registered players.. 1420 are senior male players. They are ranked 39th.
Cheers
January 25th 2011 @ 8:59am
True Tah said | January 25th 2011 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Argentina’s problem is that they are far too good for their neighbours, and this is why a Pan-American tournament would not be a great success. They produce a huge amount of professional players.
IRB should be focusing on these countries and Eastern Europe. I dont know why rich rugby nations like NZ, SA, Australia all get grants from the IRB for the World Cup. Surely a $4m grant would go further in Paraguay than Australia?
“Latin American fits the mould for rugby more so than perhaps Asia or Africa” WCR you have not been to Madagascar, their problem is not so much people liking rugby (they already do), but being competitive internationally.
January 25th 2011 @ 9:03am
King of the Gorgonites said | January 25th 2011 @ 9:03am | Report comment
here is a piece on Colombian rugby…………….
http://www.youtube.com/user/irb#p/u/1/HZJa_kXlxZ8
IMO the most promising aspects of growth of South American rugby has been into the pporer working class communities. rugby is cearly changing peoples lives in downtrodden communtiies.
January 25th 2011 @ 8:36pm
p.Tah said | January 25th 2011 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Looks like they’re playing on artificial grass. To think that the IRB along with FIFA put so much research into artificial playing surfaces… They could have just asked the Colombians!
January 25th 2011 @ 9:12am
Ramirez said | January 25th 2011 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Ross: I don’t know about the other South American countries, but in Brazil cable channels do show Rugby games such as International Tests, Six Nations, Heineken Cup and the RWC. Unfortunately, coverage is focused mostly on European rugby.
In Brazil there has been a rather solid deveopment project for the Rugby Sevens team. The South American Sevens Championship will be hosted in Brazil this February and the top teams will qualify to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Since Uruguay, Argentina and Chile have already qualified, Brazil has a very good chance to be in the PanAm Olympics later this year.
The Brazilian Sevens team has also played Cross-Border Tournaments in Argentina and Uruguay.These tournaments usually include provincial sides from Argentina, where Rugby is stronger, and national teams such as Brazil and Paraguay, where rugby is still under development.
Although the quality of the game is not that good, Brazil is doing rather well. They even finished ahead of Uruguay in a tournament played in Punta Del Este (Uruguay). I found a video of this Tournament on YouTube, which shows that Fox Sports in Latin America did broadcast it:
The official sponsor of Brazilian rugby is also doing some humorous ads to promote rugby in the country. These ads are not restricted to cable channels, they also appear on free-to-air TV:
In the end it says “Rugby: It will be big in Brazil someday”
January 25th 2011 @ 9:25am
Ramirez said | January 25th 2011 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Oops, didnt see that WCR posted the Topper ads. Hopefully they’re not the same.
I thought reception for these ads would be mostly negative since they make a joke out of rugby in Brazil but it was quite the opposite.