The Geographical Distribution of Los Pumas in 2016

Of Argentina’s 30-man roster at Rugby World Cup 2007 all but four players were from Buenos Aires. This was a reflection of URBA’s quality within Argentina. It was also, according to the provinces, evidence that changes were needed for the future.

Following that tournament efforts were made to set-up a system that would monitor players starting from a young age. Known as PladAR, high performance centers were set-up in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario and Tucumán. The same five cities are Argentina’s largest.

The efforts have succeeded in enabling an increasing number of players to filter into Los Pumas than in 2007. Indeed Juan Manuel Leguizmón was joined by just three other non-porteño players in France. Daniel Hourcade’s 33-man Rugby Championship roster is different. Included are players from provinces in the north to Ramiro Herrera from the south.

Hourcade’s home province of Tucumán featured just Omar Hasan in 2007. Today the list includes five – Gabriel Ascárate, Ramiro Moyano, Matías Orlando, Lucas Noguera Paz and Nicolás Sánchez. Córdoba and Rosario have both also been clear benefactors.

Missing out at present is Mendoza. Hourcade opted against the selection of Cuyo players. Gonzalo Bertranou was a surprise omission with Felipe Ezcurra instead being selected. Also out is Rodrigo Báez to injury.

Not withstanding Hourcade’s roster demonstrates a closing gap. Of his 33 players 18 are from the Buenos Aires union and 15 from elsewhere. Put differently today 54% are from Buenos Aires today while in 2007 the number was 87%.

The Geographical Distribution of Los Pumas in 2016 signifies progress. PladAR made it possible for players to come through the system at home. They no longer needed to, like Leguizamón and countless others, move to Buenos Aires.

Player	Position	Caps	Union
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro	Loosehead Prop	25	Buenos Aires
Santiago García Botta	Loosehead Prop	9	Buenos Aires
Lucas Noguera Paz	Loosehead Prop	23	Tucumán
Facundo Bosch	Hooker	2	Buenos Aires
Agustín Creevy	Hooker	49	Buenos Aires
Julián Montoya	Hooker	19	Buenos Aires
Ramiro Herrera	Tighthead Prop	22	Chubut
Enrique Pieretto	Tighthead Prop	3	Córdoba
Matías Alemanno	Second-row	21	Córdoba
Marcos Kremer	Second-row	0	Entre Rios
Tomás Lavanini	Second-row	28	Buenos Aires
Guido Petti	Second-row	15	Buenos Aires
Juan Manuel Leguizamón	Flanker	68	Santiagueña
Tomás Lezana	Flanker	8	Santiagueña
Pablo Matera	Flanker	25	Buenos Aires
Javier Ortega Desio	Flanker	22	Entre Rios
Facundo Isa	Number 8	16	Santiagueña
Leonardo Senatore	Number 8	36	Rosario
Tomás Cubelli	Scrum half	48	Buenos Aires
Felipe Ezcurra	Scrum half	3	Buenos Aires
Martín Landajo	Scrum half	56	Buenos Aires
Santiago González Iglesias	Fly half	22	Buenos Aires
Nicolás Sánchez	Fly half	42	Tucumán
Gabriel Ascárate	Inside Center	17	Tucumán
Jerónimo de la Fuente	Inside Center	21	Rosario
Juan Martín Hernández	Inside Center	60	Buenos Aires
Matías Moroni	Outside Center	11	Buenos Aires
Matías Orlando	Outside Center	11	Tucumán
Santiago Cordero	Wing	21	Buenos Aires
Lucas González Amorosino	Wing	50	Buenos Aires
Manuel Montero	Wing	24	Buenos Aires
Ramiro Moyano	Fullback	8	Tucumán
Joaquín Tuculet	Fullback	31	Buenos Aires