The Pumas (Argentina’s national team) have been climbing the world rankings for the last decade and there is now a suggestion they are ready to join what is at the moment the Tri-Nations competition involving the All Blacks (New Zealand), the Wallabies (Australia) and the Springboks (South Africa).

Like football, rugby union was introduced to Argentina by the British in 1873, and the Argentine rugby union (UAR) (www.uar.com.ar) was formed in 1899. In Buenos Aires, internationals are either played at the River Plate stadium (www.cariverplate.com.ar) or the Velez Sarsfield stadium (www.velezsarsfield.com.ar).

For tickets try the UAR website or Ticketek (www.ticketek.com.ar). For club rugby in Argentina the two leading exponents are Club Athletico de San Isidro (CASI) and San Isidro Club (SIC).

Club Athletico de San Isidro, Roque Saenz Pena 499, San Isidro
Tel: 4743 4242  www.casi.org.ar

San Isidro Club, Blanco Encalada 404, San Isidro
Tel: 4776 2030/4763 2039  www.sanisidroclub.com.ar