Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rodolfo Ambrosio is no longer the Head Coach of Os Tupis. The Argentine departed Brazil following a pay dispute with the CBRu. He did so following last Wednesday’s home international against the Barbarians in São Paulo.
Taking over from Ambrosio will be Fernando Portugal, one of Brazil’s most notable former players. He was a professional in Italy’s second division and a long-time starting center for Os Tupis. Since 2015, Portugal has been a part of the CBRu’s High Performance Center.
Ambrosio was the Head Coach of Brazil’s national men’s team, Os Tupis, and the director of the national High Performance Center. Americas Rugby News has learned that his departure comes with the CBRu facing serious financial problems.
The departure of Ambrosio marks the end of an era. He was appointed Head Coach of Brazil in 2014 and left the post as the most successful Brazilian coach in history. Under Ambrosio Brazil defeated the USA in 2016; Canada in 2017, and 2019; Belgium in 2017; Portugal in 2017, and 2019; the Argentina XV in 2018; and the Georgia XV in 2018.
The Ambrosio years saw Brazil rise from 40th to 25th in the World Rankings. In South America Brazil rose above Chile to officially be third in South America. His departure comes ahead of Friday’s launch of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) in Montevideo.
