- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Earlier in the week the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) announced an expansion to their long-established provincial championship structure, the Campenato Argentino.
What is the significance of this expansion?
What does expanding the competition internally do to for rugby in Argentina, or in South America more broadly?
Well, domestically, an expansion would provide more players the opportunity to prove themselves at a higher level, while attempting to gain entry to the Las Pampas system and professional rugby within their own nation.
This expansion, however, is not about domestic rugby. Instead, from its next edition, the Compenato Argentino will begin to see the likes of Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Uruguay compete within its three-tiered provincial set-up.
From 2012, both Chile and Uruguay will find themselves in the pressure cooker of the Argentine 1st Division alongside the likes of Buenos Aires, Salta and Cordoba. At the same time, Brazil and Paraguay will start off in the third division in a quest to seek promotion.
This presents a significant development in Argentine rugby, as South America’s strongest rugby nation chooses to adopt a leadership role in a region where the game is experiencing strong growth but receives little attention.
Word is that within some circles of Argentine rugby this move is unpopular. In a positive sign of a move toward autonomy, the UAR implemented the initiative regardless. If it is maintained it will pay no end of dividends for the game as a competitive sport on the continent.
The only real criticism to emerge is that of positioning of Brazil in the third division as opposed to Chile and Uruguay, against whom Brazil has improved immensely over the past three years. The Brazilian squad also competed pleasingly at the recent Emirates Cup of Nations. They fell just shy of Kenya, before handing hosts the UAE a heavy defeat, and performing admirably against eventual winners Hong Kong.
Hopefully their placing in the third division will drive the squad to rapidly push for promotion to join their CONSUR A counterparts. This is an aim they have already made clear, and I believe from monitoring their progress it is entirely possible.
Overall the expansion is a very positive development not only for rugby in South America but the game as a whole. It leaves one to wonder about the timing of such a move, especially one that closely mimics the Super 8 proposal the IRB submitted, offering to fund the entire initiative.
Does it have something to do with Argentina’s arrival as a regular in The Rugby Championship, and talk of the development of an Argentine team or Argentina-based conference in Super Rugby?
One thing is for certain: such a move can only prove worthwhile for a region that could install rugby as the continent’s second football code, and whose influence could reach further to the likes of Columbia, who are looking to begin to make moves toward the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.