Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The oldest rugby club in the Americas turns 162 today. Established on July 18, 1861 Montevideo Cricket Club (MVCC) was the first rugby club in Uruguay. It is recognized at the Twickenham Museum of Rugby has being the 8th oldest club in the World.
The seven clubs older than MVCC are Guy’s Hospital (1843, England), Dublin University F.C (Ireland, 1854), Liverpool (England, 1857), Edinburgh Academicals (Scotland, 1858), Merchiston Castle (Scotland, 1858), St. Andrew’s University (Scotland, 1858) and Blackheath Preparatory School Old Boys (England, 1858).
Coming in behind MVCC to complete the world’s ten oldest rugby clubs are two further clubs from England – Richmond FC (1861) and Sale (1861). As such the MVCC is the only club outside of the England, Scotland and Ireland of the ten.
Throughout its history the club has produced many players to Los Teros. Forwards Agustín Alonso and Diego Magno competed at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Wales and the latter also at RWC 2019 in Japan.
Also from the club is Pablo Lemoine, Chile’s head coach today and former Uruguayan head coach. In addition, prop Diego Arbelo who is targeting a second Rugby World Cup is from the club. So too are fly half / center Juan Andrés Zuccarino and center / wing Juan Manuel Alonso who are set to be a new-comer for Los Teros at RWC 2023.
Magno is the most capped player in the history of the Americas. He is presently the only player to reach 100 test caps. He now has hot competition with Agustín Creevy now just one cap away from the magic number. Nicolás Sánchez and Pablo Matera are both in the 90’s.
