Brazilian Rugby Exposition in São Paulo

A Brazilian rugby exposition is taking place in São Paulo. Organized by Portal do Rugby founder, Victor Ramalho the exposition showcases the sport of rugby in Brazil over the years.

Contrary to popular understanding rugby has a deep history in Brazil which the exposition illustrates. Ramalho  points out that “the objective is to call attention to our sport, which has a lot of history and did not begin yesterday in Brazil, and increasing the horizons of those who are already involved in the sport and who would like to know more about it’s history“.

The expoisition is being staged at SESC Belenzinho in São Paulo until February 28. Organized by Ludens (Núcleo Interdisciplinar de Estudos do Futebol e Atividades Lúdicas) of the Universidad de São Paulo (São Paulo University – USP), in association with SESC (Servicio Social del Comercio) and the Confederación Brasileña de Rugby (Brazilian Rugby Confederation – CBRu), the exposition takes a look into rugby in Brazil past and present.

The exposition comes at a time in which all eyes are on Brazil ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games. The Brazilian men’s and women’s teams will both compete at the debut of Rugby Sevens as an Olympic sport. It is to come some 92 years after rugby was last played, with the USA winning Gold in Paris.

While rugby is played throughout Brazil today this was not always the case as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo were long the strongholds. In 1926 this saw the staging of the Beilby Alston Cup, a fixture betweet the leading players of the Brazil’s two largest cities.

At international level Brazil has been competing since 1930. The Junior Springboks visited in 1930 and 1932 while the team now competing as the British and Irish Lions did so in 1936. Brazil was involved in the inaugural South American Championship in 1951, finishing fourth behind Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

Now in 2016, Brazil is busy preparing for the Americas Rugby Championship. The Tupis will face Chile and Canada in away matches while taking on Uruguay, the USA and Argentina at home. São Paulo is to play host to the matches against the Eagles and Pumas.