The desire for new teams in Super Rugby Americas is alive. The seven team league may expand within its existing borders as moves are advanced for Los Pampas and Los Dogos to be joined by a third Argentine team.
Former Pumas Head Coach Daniel Hourcade has been contributing behind the scenes to help improve the rugby institutions in his native province of Tucumán. Now the High Performance Manager and World Rugby consultant for Sudamérica Rugby, Hourcade notes that Tucumán is preparing and doing what needs to be done.
In an interview with Eugenio Astesiano and Joaco Galan on their joint podcast, Open Rugby, Hourcade explained that Tucumán lacked the fundamentals required but that is now being corrected to enable the introduction of a professional rugby team.
“Tucumán is preparing and working on what needs to be done so that in the event that the UAR decides to give it the opportunity, Tucumán could really put up their hands and say “we can do it”, not only in economic terms, but also on the field itself; with players and staff.”
In January it was reported that the Unión de Rugby de Tucumán (URT) is to have its own independent High Performance Center. This was part of the ambition of investment in player development and of moving towards having a Super Rugby Americas team, potentially playing as Los Naranjas.
At the time, Daniel Hourcade noted that part of the plan requires Tucumán to have a high number of homegrown players. In other words, Tucumán would look to replicate Dogos which is heavily Córdoba focused.
Tucumán province carries historical importance to Argentine rugby. It has hosted test matches and the province has also played at home against the All Blacks.
The second Puma to each 100 caps is from Tucumán; Nicolás Sánchez earned his 100th cap for Argentina last year. He did so at Rugby World Cup 2023. He went on to score the match-sealing try for Los Pumas in the Quarter Final win over Wales. He is Argentina’s all-time top point scorer in general and at Rugby World Cups.
In addition to Sánchez, Tucumán also contributed winger Mateo Carreras and loose head prop Thomas Gallo to the roster for Rugby World Cup 2023. The trio are from Tucumán Lawn Tennis, Los Tarcos and Universitario respectively.
Former Pumas from Tucumán include Pablo Garretón, Martín Terán, Santiago Mesón, Omar Hasan, Julio Farías Cabello, José Núñez Piossek, Matías Orlando, and Lucas Noguera Paz. Orlando recently moved to Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby and is on the radar for the upcoming July Internationals.
The post Top Backing for Tucumán To Join Super Rugby Americas appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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