Solutions needed as Jaguares are out of Super Rugby

COVID-19 has damaged professional sport greatly; in some cases beyond repair. For Argentine rugby it is both the present and the future that are clouded. For 2020 Los Jaguares are out of Super Rugby. However, this is just the short story.

Reports from numerous outlets in Argentina explain the real story: Jaguares are out of Super Rugby. The Buenos Aires based franchise will not play again in 2020 and nor will the team have matches in 2021.

Closed borders and travel uncertainties are standing in the way of more games in not only 2020 but also 2021. As such, Los Jaguares are to join the Sunwolves in exiting Super Rugby.

As of yet no announcement has been made from the UAR or SANZAAR. The UAR did, nonetheless, release a gloomy statement last week in which it noted that options were being considered. It was clear then, and it is clearer now, that Los Jaguares are out of Super Rugby.

Super Rugby itself may also have concluded. In its place there may be new-look domestic competitions for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. There may, instead, be an Oceania competition and a South African one which would be followed by play-off’s between top sides per region. Regardless of the format there will not be an Argentine competition.

Argentina’s situation is thereby grave. Should Super Rugby resume ‘as normal’ then Los Jaguares will need to wait until 2022.

One option that the UAR is considering is for Los Jaguares to follow in the steps of the Pampas XV and Los Jaguares XV by playing in South Africa. Such a possibility would mean a higher level competition for Los Jaguares in comparison to the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup First Division that the earlier Argentine sides played in.

Playing in a South African competition would not be cost-effective. Los Jaguares XV operated on a loss and so too would Los Jaguares. Being stationed in South Africa for two months does not come cheap and paying for this with reduced sponsorship revenue and no home Super Rugby or test matches makes it a highly complicated possibility.

Additional options do exist and make potentially smarter financial sense. One is for an Argentine franchise to play in Major League Rugby. This would be a notably lower level of competition compared to not only Super Rugby but also a South African conference or the premier division of the Currie Cup.

An additional suggestion that has been leaked is for Los Jaguares to be based in Madrid, Spain and join the Pro 14. This possibility has been suggested as part of additional teams from the South African Super Rugby conference following the Cheetahs and Kings move to the league.

Within South America there is also the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby. Perhaps the most sensible move for the UAR to add two more teams to the SLAR? This could see Los Jaguares being the Buenos Aires team joining Los Ceibos in Córdoba and a second new Argentine team. The UAR could distribute players accordingly.

SLAR had a solid beginning this year. Los Ceibos had 6,000 in attendance against the Olímpia Lions (Paraguay), an example to show that the market does exist in Argentina. Assuming that the competition continues in 2021 with the same teams and Los Cafeteros Pro (Colombia) then it will be a six team league. Two new Argentine teams would make it a highly respectable eight.

The present and the future are very uncertain for Argentina. Players are being encouraged to take up offers from abroad. Player movement is inevitable, yet many will remain in Argentina. What to do with them? SLAR could be the best option on the table.