South America’s Professional League Growing Before It Begins

South America’s Professional League is growing before it begins. Plans for the new competition to underway in 2019 were for Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay to be involved.  Now, though, Paraguay is involved in the advanced negotiations.

From Four to Five
Currently ranked seventh in the Americas Paraguay was excluded from the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) with Brazil instead being the sixth participant. This was met with some opposition due to Paraguay having historically being above Brazil and also being ranked higher when the ARC began.

Ultimately the market potential of Brazil was the overriding factor which saw Os Tupis included rather than Los Yácares.

Paraguay, though, has not been left out to dry. Instead Los Yácares are to have increased international competition. They are involved in the 2018 Sudamericano 6 Naciones A and the Americas Rugby Challenge.

The Sudamericano 6 Naciones A starts this coming Saturday while the Americas Rugby Challenge will be played in August and September. Paraguay are Colombia are both Sudamérica Rugby member unions but are not a part of the ARC. Overtime promotion and relegation between the ARC and the Americas Rugby Challenge will certainly be added.

Professional Rugby in South America
The new initiatives are part of raising the level of test rugby in the region. A second vital piece is having regular rugby for the same players. Paraguay is no different than Argentina, Brazil, Chile or Uruguay in this regard.

Bridging the gap from club to test level has resulted in moves to establish a South American Professional Rugby competition. Paraguay are well positioned due to not only geography, but the union have their own rugby stadium – the Estadio Héroes de Curupayty in Asunción.

The organizers are looking to the example of the Copa Libertadores de América. The soccer competition has clubs from 10 countries and is among the most prestigious soccer competitions in the world.

Rugby’s answer may now have a name – the Liga Sul-Americana de Rugby. URU President Pablo Ferrari used the name in a Radio Interview in which he covered a range of themes.

Ten Teams
Ferrari noted that the Liga Sudamericana de Rugby has reached advanced negotiations. He named Paraguay as being involved and that the competition looms as being not an 8 team competition, as initially, proposed but now a league with 10 teams.

Paraguay would have one of the ten teams while Ferrari’s Uruguay would have two. These teams are almost officially confirmed now as being Nacional and Peñarol, traditional soccer clubs in Greater Montevideo.

Argentina is noted as having four teams in the competition. To make this happen the UAR is expected to announce the candidacy process for interested cities and financial backers.

Following the suspension of the 2018 Argentino de Mayores, Argentina’s National Provincial Championship there is no more national competition above club level. The Liga Sudamericana de Rugby would fill this gap, potentially with there PladAR regional model replicated.

Such a policy would keep Jaguares as a Buenos Aires based side. Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta and Tucumán loom as viable options. They would ensure a competition for Argentina XV players to play in, a vital missing part of what is an academy project of semi-professional status.

Chile’s involvement would enable the same players who wear Los Cóndores colors in the ARC to play regularly. Both Chile and Paraguay would have their version of Los Jaguares playing in the new South American league.

Brazil is looking to have two teams. São Paulo remains a virtual certainty for one side with the remainder potentially coming from a southern state. Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina are all plausible options.

With more rugby for all involved the ultimate goal of lifting the standards would be achievable. The new competition would predominantly be for the same players from the ARC though there would be places available for athletes from outside too.