Who Does Uruguay Play Against the Most?

Who Does Uruguay Play Against the Most? In the fourth of a series looking at international opposition of the the Americas, today we look at Uruguay’s test matches from 1995 on.

Uruguay played at a Rugby World Cup for the first time in 1999. The country joined Namibia and Spain as debutants while both Fiji and the USA were back after having missed out on competing at the 1995 tournament.

Rugby’s move to professionalism made it possible for 20 teams to compete at Rugby World Cup 1999. During this common era Uruguay played against a total of 26 countries. This is a larger number than neighboring Argentina who has faced 24 countries during this period. It is, however, one country fewer than that of Canada.

Over this period Uruguay has faced a wide variety of opponents. They offer all of World Rugby’s working categories. That is to say Uruguay has played against Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 countries.

The 26 countries listed are all World Rugby members. Matches involving the Uruguay XV or opposition ‘A’ sides do not qualify. Also excluded are matches against composite sides in which test caps were not awarded.

The following table documents the complete record from 1995-2016. For the purposes of completing the cycle it includes all matches in 1995 itself.

OPPONENT	TESTS (RWC)
Argentina	23
Australia	1 (1)
Brazil	9
Canada	9
Chile	25
England	2 (2)
Fiji	3 (1)
Georgia	5 (1)
Germany	1
Hong Kong	1
Italy	3
Japan	3
Kazakhstan	1
Morocco	2
Namibia	1
Paraguay	13
Portugal	10
Romania	8
Russia	7
Samoa	1 (1)
Scotland	1 (1)
South Africa	3 (2)
Spain	9 (1)
USA	15
Venezuela	1
Wales	1 (1)

Most and Least Frequent Opponents
Uruguay’s most common opponent has been Chile. Some 25 matches have taken place between Los Teros and Los Cóndores during this period. This is two more than that of the next most frequent fixture. Uruguay has taken on Argentina in 23 capped internationals since 1995.

The fourth most frequent is again a South American opponent. Paraguay have played Uruguay some 13 times during these years. The number would be higher had Paraguay not been overtaken by Brazil in the later half of the relevant period.

The nine matches against Brazil matches that of Canada but is fewer than that of the USA. The USA has been the third most common opponent. This will continue with the annual Americas Rugby Championship. Paraguay will also continue to face Uruguay in the South American ‘A’ Championship.

Outside of the Americas Uruguay has been busiest against Iberian opposition. Los Teros have played Portugal and Spain 10 and 9 times each respectively. Romania and Russia follow with 8 and 7 internationals apiece.

On the other end of the scale Uruguay has played against nine countries once each. Of these Germany became the most recent this past November. That very fixture is extremely likely to be repeated in quick time.

Excluding Rugby World Cups
Does excluding World Cup matches from the count alter the figures? Yes it does. Australia, England, Scotland and Wales have all faced Uruguay exclusively at Rugby World Cups. Indeed Italy, South Africa and Argentina are the only Tier 1 countries to have played against Uruguay during these years outside of World Cups.

Tier 2 sides Fiji, Georgia and Samoa have all played against Uruguay once in a Rugby World Cup. Both Fiji and Georgia have also faced Los Teros in other matches. Samoa has not.

It is the number of matches against Argentina which is the most striking. Compared to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga’s quantity of fixtures against Australia or New Zealand the difference is mind-blowing. Australia has played Fiji 5 times, Samoa 3 times and Samoa once since 1995. New Zealand has played Fiji 4 times, Samoa 5 and Tonga 5 times. These figures include matches at Rugby World Cups.

Looking to Europe the fixtures again demonstrate far fewer matches involving Six Nations teams against Tier 2 sides and potential future Tier 2 sides. Georgia, Portugal, Russia and Spain have all played at Rugby World Cups. England has played Romania twice and Georgia once. Two of these three matches were at World Cups. France is the stand out with there having been ten matches against Romania. Ireland and Scotland have hosted Georgia for first-ever test matches in recent years.

In Africa it is again strikingly lower than the number of games Uruguay has had against Los Pumas. The only African country to have played South Africa is Namibia. There have been two matches, one was at Rugby World Cup 2011.

Tier 2 Comparison
In 2016 Uruguay became listed by World Rugby as a Tier 2 member. Does this mean than Uruguay plays a similar list of opponents as that of other Tier 2 unions? The answer is somewhat. In actuality Tonga, Georgia, Japan and Canada are far from replicating each other.

Tonga has had 26 opponents during this period. The variation of opponent, though, has been significantly different. Tonga has played Fiji and Samoa a total of 28 and 23 times respectively. Japan is third with 15 matches followed by the USA with nine and Canada with six. Eight countries have played Tonga once. Uruguay is not one of them.

Georgia has had 31 opponents in total. Ranging from 17 t0 20 matches Portugal, Romania, Russia, and Spain have played Georgia most frequently. With eight matches the Czech Republic is next and there only side to have played Georgia more than five times.

Japan has had 28 opponents, two more than Uruguay. South Korea, and Kong Hong come in first and second with 24 and 20 fixtures respectively. Canada and the USA follow with 19 and 17 matches. Fifth place goes to Tonga with 15 matches, one more than Samoa and Fiji.

Japan’s opposition list is thereby vastly different to that of Uruguay, Canada, Tonga, and Georgia. Japan has frequently played against all of Canada, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and the USA. Japan has also had five matches against each of Georgia, Romania, and Russia. Like Canada the Tier 1 side to have faced Japan the most is Wales with nine internationals.

Uruguay’s fixture list until 2016 was notably different. Qualified for that year’s Rugby World Cup saw Uruguay receiving increased World Rugby investment. The November 2016 tour to Germany, Spain and Romania was a first for Los Teros. Such a tour will occur again in November 2017. Before then Uruguay will host the Nations Cup in June. Uruguay will face both Russia and Spain in Montevideo.

The increased integration of the Americas will continue in the coming years. The Americas Rugby Championship will see Brazil and Canada both overtaking Portugal in 2018. Matches against the Pacific Islanders and Japan will continue to be low on the list despite them being Tier 2 members.