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Argentina are aiming to playing the 2019 Currie Cup. Advanced discussions between UAR President Marcelo Rodríguez and SA Rugby President Mark Alexander have been highly productive.
Rodríguez told La Nacion:
“We are in an advanced process that should be followed by a logical decision by SA Rugby, but thus far we have received support and goodwill from them. On our side we are still studying a series of questions related to the logistics and the financial impact”.
Plans to join the Currie Cup were made public last October. At that time it was noted that the players would be the same who are involved with the Argentina XV. They would be semi-professionals, comparable to those who played for the former Pampas XV.
The budgetary demands of playing in the competition mean that the UAR would have to fund a team to play in South Africa from mid August to late October. Rodríguez noted that:
“We are working hard to have a financial model that will enable us to participate. We are very optimistic, we are going to have at least two more meetings (with SA Rugby) at the end of the year”.
Argentina’s involvement in there Currie Cup is one of two new professional ventures. The other is the Liga Americana de Rugby. Set to start in 2020 the league will involve two Argentine teams in addition to two from Brazil and Uruguay and one each from Chile and Paraguay. Argentine players are expected to be spread around the rosters in general.
The new look model would see Tier 1 being Los Jaguares, Tier 2 Currie Cup, Tier 3 Liga Americana. Though based on calendars it is highly probable that players will be involved in multiple competitions.
As an illustration of the hybrid model are players including Diego Fortuny, Juan Cruz Mallía, and Santiago Medrano. The trio have all received game time for Los Jaguares and the Argentina XV this year. Fortuny played just five minutes for Los Jaguares yet was Argentina’s replacement hooker in round one of the Rugby Championship.
The flaw in the current set-up is that with Julián Montoya succumbing to injury there was no player ready for international duty. Mario Ledesma called-up Agen’s Facundo Bosch with him joining in time for round two in Mendoza.
Daniel Hourcade was the Head Coach of the Pampas XV and he used the team to bridge players from club rugby to the international level. From 2010-2015 the team acted as Argentina’s version of Los Jaguares and many players went on to play for Los Pumas.
The re-birth of the Pampas XV for the Currie Cup would see the Argentine side playing in a higher level competition. Argentina’s prior involvement in a South African competition was that of the Vodacom Cup, a developmental competition for Super Rugby. It was third in level behind Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.
The Currie Cup is not altogether unknown to Argentina. Pumas have played in the competition inotably Manuel Carizza (Western Province), Juan Martín Hernández (Natal Sharks), and Federico Méndez (Natal Sharks). Also previously involved is Nicolás Fernández Miranda (Natal Sharks) who played in the 2002 Semi Finals and is now assistant coach to Mario Ledesma with Los Pumas.
Rodríguez outlined who will be involved for Argentina in the Currie Cup:
“Players of the style that we have competing for the Argentina XV, but with the incorporation of youth.”
The team itself is not going to play under the name of the Argentina XV. Rodríguez confirmed that the name will be different but that it has not yet been finalized.
