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The chances of Rugby World Cup 2027 being in Argentina are very high, says Agustín Pichot. The former Pumas skipper and World Rugby Vice Chairman told Sergio Stuart of Ole in an interview. The long term plan is well advanced and World Rugby is beyond satisfied with progress.
The UAR has the complete support and backing from Argentina’s government. President Mauricio Macri met with World Rugby officials during the 2016 Rugby Championship, doing so together with the UAR. This comes at a time in which rugby is experiencing tremendous expansion. Authorities back the move to play World Cups in new places.
Argentina has never bid to host a Rugby World Cup. The country, though, is the only Semi Finalist in history never to host a tournament. In 2019 Japan will become Asia’s first host nation. This is to leave the Americas as the final World Rugby region yet to host.
The brand of Los Pumas has grown substantially over the past decades. So much so that home test matches can now be played nationwide in front of large crowds. In between Rugby World Cups 2003 and 2007 Buenos Aires stopped being the primary city for hosting home test matches.
Twelve or thirteen venues is the stated desire from World Rugby. Following England’s instance of using Wales in 2015 World Rugby has officially made it known that all must be in the one country. In the past three years alone home Pumas or Argentina XV matches have been played in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Comodoro Rivadavia, Córdoba, La Plata, Mendoza, Resistencia, Rosario, Salta, San Juan, Santa Fé, Tucumán and Ushuaia.
In June 2017 Jujuy will join the list. The northern city is to host test rugby for the first time with Los Pumas playing at home to Georgia. With it Argentina will have played home games in far more cities than that required to host a World Cup. Additional cities including Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn hosted matches under previous coaches.
