Uruguay Prepare for Argentine Provincial Championship

In an effort to aid the development of rugby in the region Argentina have invited Uruguay’s second selection, the Uruguay XV to compete in Argentina’s national provincial championship, the Torneo Argentino de Uniones. The historical opportunity provides Uruguay with a means of developing more players to a higher level.

The Uruguay XV will participate in Zone B of the second division with the possibility of promotion to Zone A for 2016. Joining the Uruguay XV will be five other teams – Lagos del Sur, San Juan, Oeste de Buenos Aires, Unión del Sur de Buenos Aires and Chubut.

Competing for the Uruguay XV will be various young players who are considered possibilities for the future for Los Teros. Also included are some players who represented Uruguay at the ongoing Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.

The Unión de Rugby del Uruguay (Uruguayan Rugby Union – URU) has also named Guzmán Barreiro as the team’s head coach. Aged just 33 Barreiro led Old Christians Club to the Uruguayan national title earlier this year. He is to begin training on Wednesday and do so with the support of Uruguay’s senior coaching staff.

The Uruguay XV will debut on October 31 facing Lagos del Sur in an away fixture in Bariloche before hosting San Juan one week later. This fixture will take place on November 7 at Carrasco Polo club in Montevideo and will act to close the Valentín Martínez tournament.

Uruguay’s third match will be on November 14 in the city of Junín against the Unión del Oeste de Buenos Aires (Western Buenos Aires Rugby Union). On November 21 the Uruguayans will face the Unión del Sur de Buenos Aires (Southern Buenos Aires Union) in a round four match away in Bahía Blanca. Finally the Uruguay XV will play home against Southern province Chubut, a match to be played at the Paysandú Golf Club, the home of Trébol Rugby, with the stated objective of expanding rugby across all of Uruguay.

The winner of the Zone B will face the bottom placed finisher from the Zone A with the winner playing in the Zone A in 2016 and the loser in the Zone B.

Los Teros Head Coach Pablo Lemoine told reporters “Guzmán will be the Uruguay XV Head Coach following the line of integrating clubs to the activities of the URU. He is a young, technical coach and one with a lot of capabilities. He has done a great job at Old Christians”.

As a player Guzmán Barreiro defended the colors of Old Christians from 2002-2010, retiring at the young age of just 28. He played for Los Teros at the Under 19 Junior World Trophy in Chile in 2001 and in the under 21 South American Championships in 2002  2003.

His coaching career began at the Colegio St Andrews whom he trained from 2002-2005 while he also coached both Monte VI (2007) and Stella Maris (2008-2010). In addition Barreiro also coached the Old Christians under 19s from 2006-2011 and since 2012 coached the senior side.