Panama granted associate member status by World Rugby

Panama has been granted associate member status by World Rugby. The Central American republic joins Nepal in gaining associate status. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Iran and Laos achieve World Rugby full member status.

Panama is a Sudamérica Rugby member. The same is true of other Central American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Belize and Mexico are members of Rugby Americas North.

Panama won the 2018 South American C Championship. Panama did so by defeating El Salvador and Honduras. Restructuring and rebranding saw Costa Rica and Guatemala promoted to the second division. Panama, EL Salvador and Honduras thereby competed in the Centroamericano.

In 2017 Panama competed against Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Panama was winless in the competition that year.

WORLD RUGBY MEMBERSHIP – SUDAMÉRICA RUGBY

Argentina, since March 1987
Brazil, since 1995
Chile, since November 1991
Colombia, since April 1999
Costa Rica, since May 2014
Paraguay, since April 1989
Peru, since April 1999
Uruguay, since April 1989
Venezuela, since October 1998

WORLD RUGBY ASSOCIATE MEMBERS – SUDAMÉRICA RUGBY

Guatemala, since May 2016
Panama, since November 2020