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During the final weeks of waiting for Rugby World Cup 2019 to arrive Americas Rugby News will be taking a look back at some moments from past RWCs involving competitors from the Americas. First up is Uruguay who are to be the Team of the Week.
Los Teros made their RWC debut against Spain in 1999. The pool match took place in Galashiels, Scotland and was promoted in the lead up as being a World Cup Final for both teams.
Uruguay were led by Diego Ormaechea, the father of RWC 2015 scrum-half Agustín Ormaechea. Playing N8 and captaining Uruguay, Diego Ormaechea would set two records in the tournament – becoming the oldest point scorer in a RWC match and the oldest player in a RWC match. He did so at the age of 40.
The accomplishment will not be bettered in Japan 2019 and nor is there any reason to believe that an older player will appear in a future RWC tournament in the foreseeable future.
In scoring the try Ormaechea broke the record not only of RWCs but in test match rugby. The previously record had been held by Italy’s Sergio Lanfranchi who scored a try aged 38 years and 177 days against Germany in 1964.
In RWC 2003 Diego Ormaechea was Uruguay’s Head Coach while in Uruguay’s next RWC in 2015 his son, Agustín Ormaechea would score a try against Fiji. RWC 2019 is set to be the second for Agustín Ormaechea.
