- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Roar Rookie
Joined July 2019
0
Views
0
Published
9
Comments
Published
Comments
Matera is back as captain, but not for this game, the last game of the year. Same with Petti and Socino. No sanctions, but they are not allowed to play… Pretty straightforward right?
Pablo Matera back as Pumas captain, but not for Wallabies clash
Last minute:
UAR has lifted the sanctions again Matera, Petti and Socino. No further information was given.
A lot of former Pumas and the clubs where the players started their careers voiced their disapproval of the sanctions.
I just posted about the need for professionals running professional sports in Argentina… Stranger than fiction this 2020!
Matera stood down over social media posts
UAR tried for many years to implement a hybrid system. Amateur rugby locally, Professional team/ teams playing overseas and bringing much needed dollars to a country savaged by bad governments, corruption and double standards. Professional sport, professional officials. It is similar in all sports in Argentina. People without experience in professional sports ruling the lives and destinies of athletes. I does not work.
Picking a captain for a national team should not be taken lightly. Once the decision is made, after going over potentially controversial issues from the past of the player, the Union should protect and support their captain 100%.
Adding a little more context, a couple of days ago, a group of the most well known published Argentina rugby reporters sent UAR a letter complaining about the fact that for some months now, they haven’t been able to be part in the press conferences of the national team. They are required to email their questions, there is not warranty of which or how many of the questions are going to be answered, and of course, no re questioning. The journos promise to cover this last game with Australia, but if things don’t change, they are not going to work with UAR anymore.
Again, double standards. They keep saying that they want the sport to grow in the country, be more inclusive and open, yet they don’t give the reporters that cover the sport the tools to work…
Matera stood down over social media posts
That’s what any professional organization will do in this time and age. Hiring managers for companies all over the world check applicants social media profiles, credit reports etc etc.
Not in Argentina.
Matera stood down over social media posts
This is starting to feel a lot like Folaugate…
Matera stood down over social media posts
The issue is social and political. Argentina is a divided country. There are huge inequalities in terms of income, access to education, health and justice. Corrupt and inept elected politicians, public servants and leading figures in sports, unions and pretty much every other aspect of life. 2020 has been a very challenging year for a country that was deep into a huge economic crisis when the Covid 19 arrived. We have a national government that has been in power for a year.
The death of Diego Maradona was both an opportunity to bring some closure and unity to a country and its people going through a rough patch. Unfortunately, the funeral was not planned properly, hordes of people waiting for hours in the sun and heat were turned away before being able to see their idol (for a large portion of the population, their working class here, their idol, their god). For some others, more privileged, a football player that represented the worst of out society (brash, open minded, unrefined, a drug addict etc etc).
The fact that the Pumas, not only didn’t do a special tribute to the popular myth, plus the All Blacks ( with great sense of opportunity) making a tribute in front of incredulous Argentina players , triggered a lot of animosity against the Pumas, and Argentine rugby union in general.
The UAR (Argentine Rugby Union), instead of apologizing and standing up for their players, basically blamed the players for the lack of a grande enough tribute. The damage was already done. To make things worst, someone (very likely intelligence of government), resurfaced the old racist and xenophobic twits of 3 of the national team players, including the captain Pablo Matera. Tweets are 8 years old, the players were around 18 years old when they posted them.
Going back to inept and corrupt, it is socking to learn that, after the murder of an innocent teenager by a group of rugby players in a summer resort town this january in Argentina, no one in UAR had the good sense of making sure that there was no signs of these unacceptable ideas in the social media of the players of the Argentina National Team. There was time and opportunities to address this issues, sit down with the players, erase twits and accounts, discipline whoever needed to be disciplined. None of that happen. Like Maradona’s funeral, another excellent opportunity to make amends, heal wounds and show people that not all rugby players are racist and violent went to waist. The “suits”
didnt do their job. The players are being witch hunted for something that they said 10 years ago. Apologies are not going to be enough. Some media in Argentina is asking for exemplary measurements. They want heads to roll. Their business is to fuel the hates and divisions that exist in our society.
What about the thousands of good people that play rugby and also have respect and have empathy for those who think different and have less privileged lives? What about the rest of the Pumas staff and players that work hard, with honesty and passion to represent their country, clubs and family?
Argentina’s rugby is run by amateur leaders in a super professional sport. Until they realize that all aspects of the game need to be professional, our sport will not have the respect of our fellow argentines. We keep walking two steps forward and one backwards. Hope I added some context into the issue. Good luck UAR explaining our Sanzaar partners what your crisis management style is all about.
Wouldn’t be surprise if the Pumas players decide to boicot Saturday’s game against the Wallabies and refuse to play. We’ll see about that in the next couple of days.
What a year 2020!!!
Matera stood down over social media posts
Taylorman,
The Jaguares players will probably be exhausted. But the Pumas reinforcements are already in Buenos Aires training (Argentines playing in Europe). The likes of Sanchez, Urdapilleta, Isa, Herrera, Figallo, plus a couple of players recovering from injuries (Delguy, Betranou). These guys will be fresh and ready to go as well. Looks like we are going to have a short but interesting championship this year.
Super Rugby final: A rocky journey to Christchurch
IMO, Cubelli was an incredible source of first hand information.
Also, took the Brumbies 25 minutes to realize their line out throws were not working.
Why things fell apart for the Brumbies in Buenos Aires
Good way of summing up a crazy year Nobes! Time to rest now, reflect and charge the batteries. 2021 is going to be another challenging year for Argentina’s rugby, as we are still looking for a competition for Jaguares ( or any other new team the Union puts together). Systems, training, a strong professional staff and influential veteran players working all together is starting to show in the way of results. I also think there has been a steady improvement in physical condition, and its showing. Will be interesting to see how UAR and the member unions adapt to the new challenges.
Los Pumas against all odds