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The 2018 Nacional de Clubes Final is to be played at Vélez Sarsfield. The stadium is the regular home of Los Jaguares and is also where Argentina plays home matches in Buenos Aires. It has, however, not previously been considered for hosting a club match.
This year Vélez Sarsfield will host the Nacional de Clubes Final on June 30. It is to take place immediately after Los Jaguares’ home Super Rugby match against the Stormers.
The double header is to be historic as never before as such a grouping of fixtures been made, bringing together professional and amateur rugby in Argentina.
The decision to play the matches together at Vélez Sarsfield is an act of cooperation as well as common sense. The national club final and the Super Rugby match were both to be played in Buenos Aires on the same date.
Last season the Argentina XV played host to Toulon at La Catedral, CASI club in Buenos Aires. It was followed by the 2017 Nacional de Clubes Final between Hindú and Tala which was won by Hindú.
The players who faced Toulon were a combination of semi-professional and amateur players. Los Jaguares, by contrast, are fully professional.
Vélez Sarsfield has been used by the UAR since 1986. Officially the Estadio José Amalfitiani, the venue has seen historic Pumas victories. Cases in point include wins over France in 1986, 2002, 2002 and 2010, the 1987 win over Australia, and the 1990 win over England.
More recently it hosted matches against New Zealand in the 2016 and 2017 Rugby Championships. South Africa played at the venue for a RWC 2015 warm-up match a month out from the tournament.
