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The American Raptors have new coaching staff for Super Rugby Americas 2024. The Colorado team will be coached by Marcelo Loffreda. The legendary former Head Coach of Argentina takes over from Sarah Chobot who will have a scrum specialist role in 2024.
Loffreda will also be joined by his former assistant with Los Pumas, Les Cusworth and former Puma Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. Cusworth will be Senior Rugby Consultant for the American Raptors while Fernández Lobbe will be forwards and defense coach. The coaching regime will also include Steve Stagg as backs and skills coach.
The 64-year-old Loffreda arrives in Colorado with a detailed resumé. Loffreda earned 46 test caps for Argentina as a Puma from 1978-1994. He coached Argentina from 2000-2007, seeing Los Pumas win Bronze at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
Fernández Lobbe joins from both Los Pampas and from the Argentina XV. This transfer also sees fellow former Puma Juan Manuel Leguizamón now in charge of the Buenos Aires side for Super Rugby Americas 2024.
Super Rugby Americas 2024 will follow the model from 2023. The same seven teams will compete with teams playing home and away matches. The top four from the regular season will contest the play-off’s.
The opening fixture will be on Friday, February 16 with Los Dogos taking on the Raptors in an Argentine vs USA professional rugby clash. The Raptors’ first home match will be a round five match against Brazilian entrant Os Cobras on March 17.
The appointment of Loffreda as Head Coach of the American Raptors is nothing short of sensational for the team and for Super Rugby Americas. It comes with the UAR openly talking about expansion. Argentina seeks at least two more Argentine teams to join Super Rugby Americas.
