Spain vs Argentina is what rugby needs so badly

The Centennial Celebration of 100 year of Spanish Rugby will involve the special fixture of Spain vs Argentina. Los Leones will take-on Los Pumas in Madrid two weeks before the giants of South America open their World Cup campaign against England in Marseille.

How this fixture came together was impressive. Branded as ‘The Match‘, the fixture is a collaboration between the Federación Española de Rugby (FER) and event organizers, KiwiHouse.

The 2022 edition of The Match was an uncapped fixture between Spain and the Classic All Blacks. A crowd of 40,000 were in attendance at the Wanda Metropolitano (Civitas Metropolitano). The same venue will play host to Spain vs Argentina on August 26, 2023.

A variety of factors can be identified as unique to the 2023 edition of The Match. Three stand out. First, it is not a repeat fixture. It is Spain’s first home match against a Tier 1 team since 2001. Second, it is a non-Anglo rugby test match that will be contested between two Spanish-speaking countries. Third, it is to be played in a new market; one which is a renowned venue in a major city.

Three Spanish-speaking countries will compete at Rugby World Cup 2023. A fourth qualified, but was disqualified; yet, Los Leones’ quest to play in a second Rugby World Cup, and their first since 1999, is arguably well-placed.

If the Rugby World Cup expands to 24 teams then Spain is a sure-bet participant. If it remains 20 then the chances are still very good. Indications are that Spain’s eligibility errors have been taken on the chin by new FER President Juan Carlos Martín ‘Hansen’. The Match is an opportunity for Spain. Juan Carlos Martín ‘Hansen’ noted:

“Without question the agreement will help strengthen relations between the FER and UAR. It is also the first step in the new strategy we wish to promote wherein the focus is on optimizing events; this will mean new avenues of income and the explosion of rugby at the national level coinciding with the centenary anniversary.”

“We are convinced that the Civitas Metropolitano will be very successful and will lay foundations to position Los Leones and Spain at the forefront of international rugby.”

 

The Match is an opportunity for Spain, for Argentina and for the sport of rugby. Unión Rugby de Argentina (UAR) President Gabriel Travaglini referred to the match against Spain as carrying transcendent value because it will help Los Pumas improve their performance in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Put together, the leaders of Spanish and Argentine rugby label The Match as being of financial and sporting value. These are two fundamental roles of sporting administrators. Such tasks have seen rugby hold itself back by preventing progression.

It is in part a lack of new ideas but a lot has to do with the structures that are in place. There is no European Championship, nor an Oceania Championship. 12 of the 20 teams at RWC 2023 qualified automatically based on results at RWC 2019. The British & Irish Lions tours rotate unchanged to the same countries. The Rugby World Cup 2003 and 2007 hosts will host again, in reverse, in 2023 and 2027.

Spain vs Argentina is what rugby needs so badly in part because repeated fixtures occur year after year. Los Pumas faced Scotland four times in 2022 while the Springboks have never played an away test match in Africa and New Zealand have played zero test matches against the Flying Fijians in Fiji.

In his recent interview with Chilean captain Martín Sigren, Chris Voy wrote:

“In a sport still lacking international variety, the rise of Chile’s Condors is a glorious beacon of vital expansion in a new frontier.”

With no further eligibility crises the Juan Carlos Martin ‘Hansen’ administration would appear to be another glorious beacon. In addition to the 2022 edition of The Match in Madrid, 26,500 attended the Copa del Rey final in Valladolid in 2016, 99,124 attended the Top 14 Final in Barcelona in 2016 and 52,282 attended the Champions Cup Final in Bilbao in 2018.

2001-2023 is a long time between hosting Tier 1 opposition. It has also been a long time since Spain and Argentina faced-off in any test match. The teams played home-and-away matches in 1992. Argentina won 43-34 in Madrid and 38-10 in Buenos Aires. Prior to that Argentina defeated Spain 40-12 in Mar del Plata in 1987 and 28-19 in Madrid in 1982.

More recent meetings have been Spain against the Argentina XV, the next-of-XV. The teams played matches against one-another in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

On the world stage of rugby Argentina is unique in being a South American country that is genuinely competitive; Los Pumas have wins against all test match rivals. Argentina has a busy schedule each year and one that is, by and large, repetitive.

A reluctance to play against less familiar teams and a desire for safer economic returns are leading factors that drive World Rugby’s scheduling. A lack of a global rugby season complicates matters to the point that the balance between financial and sporting is demonstrably tilted in favor of the former.

There is a pathway forward and Spain vs Argentina is a case in point. Los Pumas’ match against Romania in Bucharest is another example. Making such matches less uncommon and more normal is what can be done without substantial changes.

A match of this kind could be positioned as one of three matches in a November tour. Indeed, it could have been Los Pumas playing away to Georgia or Spain or Romania or Portugal in November 2022 instead of facing Scotland for the fourth time in the same year.

Spain’s future is important for rugby. Having home matches against top sides is a way to expand the market. Spain could host opponents such as Namibia, Australia, and Uruguay in November 2024 and then Chile, Argentina, and the USA in 2025. The Test can be annual and it can be placed at the center of a reputable home schedule.