Argentina Confirmed as 2019 U20’s Championship Hosts

Argentina has been confirmed as 2019 U20’s Championship hosts by World Rugby. Having previously hosted the tournament in 2010, the South American country will do so next year withe matches being played in Rosario and Santa Fé.

Rosario is Argentina’s third largest city. It has produced notable rugby players over the years including Manuel Carizza, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Juan Imhoff, Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga, Leonardo Senatore, and Nicolás Vergallo.

The city hosted matches during the 2010 Junior World Championship and has also hosted Pumas matches. In 2018 Argentina faced Scotland in Rosario while in 2012 and 2013 Los Pumas took-on Australia in Rosario in the Rugby Championship.

Santa Fé has never hosted a Rugby Championship match but has played hosted to test rugby in recent years. In 2007 Argentina claimed a famous win over Ireland in Santa Fé. The city hosted matches against Italy and England in 2016 and 2017 and will host Wales this coming Saturday. The provincial capital of Santa Fé province, Santa Fé is Argentina’s 8th largest city.

Argentina will go into the 2019 U20’s Championship well placed. At the ongoing 2018 Junior World Championship in France, Los Pumitas are to finish either 5th or 6th. They play against Australia in the 5th place final on Sunday.

Argentina has made the Semi Finals in two editions of the World Rugby U20’s Championship. In 2012 the team finished 3rd while in 2016 Los Pumitas were 3rd. Involved in these campaigns were Pumas including Santiago Cordero, Santiago García Botta, Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera, Bautista Delguy and Marcos Kremer.

There have been over 600 players fro U20’s Championships to go on to play test rugby. Of them Argentina has contributed the most with 61 players. The extensive list of players grew this past Saturday to include Bautista Delguy, Javier Manuel Diaz and Santiago Medrano. The trio debuted for Argentina against Wales in San Juan.