between the Argentines and the French championship, a romance that has stood the test of time

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Saturday November 6, on the lawn of the Stade de France, Argentina challenges France with in its ranks eight players who play in France. It is the fourth most represented foreign diaspora in the French rugby championship. Behind the Fijians (39), South Africans (29) and New Zealanders (27), Argentines number 22. A romance spanning more than two decades between Argentines and our country.

Today manager of Provence Rugby, Mauricio Reggiardo arrived in France in 1996. A native of Bragado, in the province of Buenos Aires, he arrived in Castres at the age of 26. A title of champion of Argentina and two capes with the Pumas in the suitcases. “I was part of the first generation to go to France, the old pillar begins. In the following December, Omar Hassan left for Auch. In the process Lisandro Arbizu signs in Brive. Then, quite a few other Argentines followed suit. ”

At this time, rugby was still an amateur in Argentina, when professionalism was in its infancy in France. The vast majority of clubs are made up of French players. The few foreigners come from the major nations of international rugby.

But one event will change everything. “The 1999 World Cup initiated the arrival of Argentinian players in France, explains Miguel Fernandez, one of the most influential agents of French rugby and in particular at the origin of the arrival of several Pumas at the French Stadium in the early 2000s. TO the occasion of the World Cups and the tours, we always discovered Argentinian talents. Since rugby was totally amateur there, a sector was quickly created. With the arrival of the first players in France, it was quite easy to call a player who was already playing in Argentina because all the players know each other “.

From then on, the best Argentinian players arrived in France: Ignacio Corleto, Agustin Pichot, Juan Martin Hernandez, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero. Rather than joining the United Kingdom and its professional teams, the Argentines are making a “natural” choice, both culturally and in terms of rugby according to Mauricio Reggiardo: “Our Latin side, our ease of adaptation, and our rugby values, similar to those of the French, make it easy for us to come to France.”

“If we have to make a comparison with South African, New Zealand or Australian players, it’s the Argentines who adapt the fastest because culturally it’s a bit the same, complete Miguel Fernandez. The Argentinian game stuck quite well to our championship at the time “.

“The Argentinian, he needs to belong to where he is. As soon as we arrive, we invest a lot. Even after two weeks, it looks like we’ve been there for years. C ‘is a quality of adaptation specific to the Argentines. If you take any player from the Stade Français at the time, the guys were all adored. Petti and Cordero in Bordeaux today it’s the same thing. “

Above all, the Argentines who sign in France are totally devoted to their club. Until 2011 and the integration of Argentina in the Rugby Championship (tournament which brings together the three major nations of southern rugby), returns to the selection are rare. Only during international windows provided for this purpose, unlike other players in the Southern Hemisphere.

For four seasons, the best domestic players made up the Jaguares squad to face the best South African, Australian and New Zealand clubs in Super Rugby. (RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

In 2016, Argentina takes even more importance in international rugby, but cuts some links with France. For the first time, an Argentine province is invited to play in the Southern Hemisphere club championship, Super Rugby. The Federation then recalls all its talents to represent the motherland. If the experience comes to an end because of the health crisis, it ends with a final against the ogre of the Crusaders. “During that time, there were fewer leading Argentinian players in Europe “, Miguel Fernandez analysis.

Today, the greatest talents of the Celestial are still evolving in the French championship. But the rule limiting the number of players trained outside national borders and growing external temptations have passed by. Some have taken advantage of the Super Rugby experience to join the Southern Hemisphere. Others even fill the ranks of British teams.

Saturday, against the French, hard to imagine the Pumas giving gifts to their colleagues in the Top 14. Even tired, when they arrive at the end of an extended season, they will give everything, as in each of their matches against to the Blues.


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