Pumas fans will be stoked. It’s just been announced that they will play one of their ‘home’ games in this year’s Rugby Championship against the Wallabies at Twickenham.
The ARU and SANZAAR are hailing the move as an exciting opportunity for Southern Hemisphere rugby, to show the Northern Hemisphere the style and quality of the teams that dominated last year’s Rugby World Cup.
SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos was quick to align the move with the Rugby Championship’s ‘global strategy’.
“Aligned with our intent to take this product across the globe, Argentina have embraced this by moving one of their home fixtures to Twickenham thereby affording an ever growing fan base in the United Kingdom the opportunity to see two of the world’s most entertaining teams compete for one of the world’s toughest trophies in front of a passionate rugby crowd at Twickenham,” he said.
Bill Pulver said the match was aimed at growing interest in Southern Hemisphere in the North.
“The Northern Hemisphere enjoyed a taste of The Rugby Championship with all four semi-finalists from the recent Rugby World Cup emanating from the SANZAAR competition,” the ARU CEO said.
“Our recent broadcast agreement with Sky Sports also indicates there is huge interest in the tournament in the UK.
“From an ARU perspective this is another fantastic opportunity to showcase the Qantas Wallabies to our fans based in England, as well as thousands of new fans.
“The two nations played out a thoroughly entertaining Rugby World Cup semi-final at Twickenham only a few months ago, so I’m sure fans in England will take the opportunity to see another open, attacking encounter between two teams who love playing with ball in hand.”
The other Test they will play will be in Perth.
This move does raise serious questions about the true ambitions of SANZAAR and the ARU. Is it part of a global strategy, or further evidence that Northern Hemisphere audience is crucial to the sport in the South?
moaman
Roar Guru
"It would be the real All Blacks vs the real Wallabies and so on. Except it would be played somewhere else………" Same result though. ;-)
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
Oh, Machooka! I am not sure I want to watch rugby in Nelson Bay. Mom is very opinionated and will be a handful. But, if you are in the NB area, maybe you can get my mom to visit you and watch the games. She won't pay for Foxtel, too expensive on a retired income.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Carlos... only if you really want to go! And if you hurry you can still cancel your accom and plane fares to Argentina. Futher to that... you could go for a two for one and come here to watch the game up at Nelson's Bay :)
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
I am sure you will pay my airfare and hotel to London...
Machooka
Roar Guru
Nobrain as I said before... I hear you but. Hey this competition was designed to maximise exposure for the four nations that compete within it. Put simply it was invented for a TV audience. And before I go any further... I was one of the first people here to welcome you and yours to this comp. No big deal but I thought it not only right, proper but fair for our region. And what a great opportunity it's already become for Los Pumas. It's still early days... and we've ALL been celebrating the inclusion of da Jags in Super Rugby this season. And now your 'home' game in the RC Championship is gonna be at Twickers against my Wallaby. This is good for both our nations. And I hope you come to this conclusion as well.
Nobrain
Guest
In order to have history you have to make history. This is a competition and all four countries should try to win it, Argentina by giving away the home field advantage is diluting it changes of ever wining it. They should never treat this games as an exibition to make money.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
It's a series of paydays to keep rugby alive :-)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Further kpm... what really is the RC Championship? It doesn't have real history... it was a comp initially designed for the Southern Hemisphere teams to play each more, hence more gate takings for Sanzaar's coffers. And now it's turning in to a showcase of sorts, now and then, for Rugby supporters in the Northern Hemisphere. Or have I missed something here??
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
nobrain I think you identify the real problem with this. Both teams want a payday and want to stage a match at Twickenham. This may be silly, but ok. But if they want to do that they should add another match after the Rugby Championship, instead of replacing a Rugby Championship home game.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Look to the future. The entire Rugby Championship will be played in Six Nations stadiums. It would make a fortune. But it wouldn't the the teams we see now. It would be the All Blacks restored with alll their overseas stars, who the Super teams would now be able to afford to keep, and the same with the Wallabies and South Africa, and indeed Argentina. Financial problems in the southern hemisphere would vanish. All the stars would ply their trade in their own countries instead of for European clubs. It would be the real All Blacks vs the real Wallabies and so on. Except it would be played somewhere else..........
Nobrain
Roar Guru
No Wonder he does not care where the game is played.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
More reasons to play in Argentina.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
I am with Carlos on this one. UAR could perfectly bting the money from sanzar using the contado con liqui method, and the URBA guys were the ones stoping profesional rugby in Argentina. Pichot took that away from them and many other things. To play in England is plain stupid. If they want to make a remach do it but not as game of the RCH. What happens if were close to win it and as you know Australia is the last game? I bet you the crowd will fill two Rivar Plate stadiums.
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
This is a non-sequitur. Defending professionalism has nothing to do with this decision. The URBA old farts were clearly responsible for stopping or delaying professionalism. Even my old club was dead set against it (Pueyrredon). And lets not even discuss the biggest hypocrites in all of URBA, CUBA. No worse example. However, this has nothing to do with the fact that the Pumas elected to play in England (or the UAR, who cares?). You still have not explained the accountants stealing money from the UAR... By the way, passion is an Argentine thing. It is also very associated with rugby. I don't see the ABs or Wallabies crying. They are still passionate the way they play. I don't see Messi in soccer crying. He still puts his heart into team play. Don't be ridiculous.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. It's like the idea of either vs Argentina at Twickenham.
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
Apparently he knows al lot, especially as he is based in Paraguay...
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
oh dear .. very resentful arnt we? .. Rugby is a professional sport and a business these days ... that doesnt mean the players in the national football or rugby team dont represent the country or that it is like a private football club. When you see players crying when they step onto the field and sing their national anthem it is obvious they regard playing for their country as the ultimate honour. For a while Argentina did stick their heads in the sand ... and that resulted in them prohibiting professional Argentinian players from playing for the Pumas and being beaten 93-8 against the All Blacks in 1997. A couple of years ago the old farts also tried to prohibit Pampas XV players from playing domestic club rugby in Buenos Aires after playing in the Vodacom Cup, claiming it wasnt fair for professionals to play against amateurs, Thankfullly those days seem to be over, and the UAR now seems to be run by people living in the 21st century. Moves like this allow Argentina to pay for its high performance programs and to stay competative, which is good for world rugby. Good on Argentina for innovating ...
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
No, around 90% of recent Pumas players are now contracted domestrically in Argentina with the Jaguares Super Rugby team .... and the UAR has told players that in the future they will have to be playing for the Jaguares to be considered for Pumas selection .. although it is unclear if they will apply this from this year, as there are several players who have European contracts signed from before the Jaguares existed or have decided to continue playing in Europa.
MJ
Guest
I thought this move was about player availability given a number of Pumas who play in France may not have been released at that time of year.
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
Or All Blacks against Ireland in Chicago. Oh! Wait a minute!!!!