Belgrano Athletic, one of the four founding clubs of the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) in 1899, had to wait 48 years to get their 11th title.
Finally, and after a handful of years of reaching playoffs, the club was able to bring down the kingdom built by Hindu Club that had won six titles in the past eight years and won the final by a convincing score, 25-10.
The two teams that reached the final ranked one and two during the year and had all the merits to be there. Belgrano Athletic was founded in 1896 right at the centre of Buenos Aires and it holds a traditional English inheritance from the late 1800s that goes way back when railroads were locally developed by British companies.
Many players who have played for the Pumas came from this club. Take Marcelo Bosch (Saracens), Tomas Cubelli (Brumbies) and Santiago Garcia Botha (Jaguares) as the last examples.
To better understand what I consider the most important amateur rugby tournament of the world, one must take into account that these Argentine players have regular jobs or are students that make the effort to go out and train five days a week after their daily working routines.
The MVP of the game was 29-year-old Francisco Ferronato, a doctor who spends long hours working at a hospital and who also has a family of his own to look after. This young fellow somehow finds the time and energy to play competitive rugby. The prop scored a record 17 tries in 15 games and was present in every game.
Another outstanding player is the number 8, Alejandro Galli, who at the age of 38 has now played 19 consecutive seasons for the club in the top division.
The team has built its strength from the scrum – it is considered without a doubt the best in the nation. This scrum is so strong that not even the Pumas in practice are able to control it. The line and maul were lethal for all the rivals who couldn’t stop it all year long.
With very strong forwards and solid backs, playing in a traditional old South African rugby style, the team made a strong statement to their other thirteen rivals. The only two defeats came after they had clinched a semi-final birth.
Congratulations to the club and fans. You clearly have the endurance it takes to wait for many years for a title. I am sure the celebrations will last many days!
Cristián
Guest
And it is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, especially Melian St. surrounded by old trees at each sides of the street. Thanks Nob for the note!!
Nobrain
Guest
Not really, that was the General Belgrano vessel and was many years after the club was formed. Belgrano was militar during the independence early 1800s, and was the creator of the Argentina national flag. The vessel was named after him also as many other things in Argentina. Belgrano Athletic Club is in district in Buenos Aires that carries the name of Belgrano.
Tony Abbott (the REAL Trump)
Guest
Apply named after the Argentine naval vessel that ended up down at Davey Jones' Locker during the Falklands scrap.
Nobrain
Guest
Why not?
shop
Guest
Mendoza!!!????
Machooka
Roar Guru
If my Spanish was half as good as your English I'd be a very happy man :))
Nobrain
Guest
Like I said, in my opinion the economics are not there to have a second team, but if they were, Tucuman could be a good place, Cordoba, or even Rosario.
tc
Guest
Nobrain In your opinion, where do you think the new team would be based.
Boy Harris Smith
Guest
Come on el marron, big champion, big party. Nobrain your articles are getting better and better, your followres love them , keep on going !!!!!!
Titi Badeigts
Guest
Great note...!! They have been for many years a lot of effort and in the last two years have always arrived at semifinals becomes the URBA (Union of Rugby of Buenos Aires), a great team that intelligently in the championship without leaving your own game add aggressively in the tackle, and learned to read the game Hindu team .. !! Congratulations.
Gabriel
Guest
Grande Marronessss!!!!
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Here are the highlights of that match. We were sitting very close to where the commentator is speaking at the start of the video. But I couldn't find us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ_c2IJd8-o
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Yikes, been there, done that. Escaped pretty damaged. Very high maintenance! The team that last won, in 1968, played Wales in the old stadium of Gimnasia y Esgrima, Jorge Newbury, behind the train tracks. Sometimes the trains would stop or blow the horns while passing when matches were played there. Some old famous Pumas played for Belgrano that day and also quite a few for Wales, including a rather lamb chopped fullback who became famous and a doctor as well! He had three initials! The sad thing about that game, was that a Belgrano player named Coles received a head injury during the game and died a few hours later in hospital. 1968 was the first year I attended international games. Those matches are available on youtube. If you watch them now, the level was atrocious, but it was amazing then, especially for a 10 year old pair of eyes.
shop
Guest
They are wonderful, until you marry them....
Nobrain
Guest
It is what everybody wants but I do not think the economics are there yet.
Marcos Perez Andal
Guest
Muy buen articulo y muy claro.Abrazo.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Guest
Thanks Nobes. Loving to get a little look-in in Argentinian amateur rugby. Has their been any more talk about a second SR sida from Argentina?
trehua1
Guest
¡¡¡Vamos Belgrano!!!
Nobrain
Guest
Thanks , your spanish is almost ready for an article. Keep the good work. ?
Ralph
Roar Guru
"29-year-old Francisco Ferronato, a doctor who spends long hours working at a hospital and who also has a family of his own to look after. This young fellow somehow finds the time and energy to play competitive rugby." Argentinian woman must be wonderful people.