Jaguares (Super Rugby)

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The Jaguares was an Argentine professional rugby union team based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were founded in 2015 and are the first Argentine team to play in SANZAAR's Super Rugby competition, participating from the 2016 Super Rugby season onwards. They were the runners up during the 2019 Super Rugby season, losing to the Crusaders 19–3 in the Super Rugby Final, played on 6 July 2019. They participated in Super Rugby until the end of the 2020 Super Rugby season, before they departed the competition having not been named in any of the regionalised formats for the 2021 Super Rugby season. With no competition in sight, players moved to different clubs in Europe and the national group disintegrated. The Jaguares disbanded permanently in December 2022 due to the expansion of Super Rugby Americas, dividing into two new teams, Dogos XV and Pampas XV.

Jaguares
UnionArgentine Rugby Union
Nickname(s)The Jaguares
Founded16 December 2015
Disbanded2020; 4 years ago (2020)
LocationBuenos Aires, Argentina
RegionArgentina
Ground(s)José Amalfitani Stadium (Capacity: 49,540)
Most capsGuido Petti (67)
Top scorerNicolás Sánchez (392)
20203rd (South African Conference)
8th (Overall) (season abandoned)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.jaguares.com.ar

History

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Following on from impressive performances by Argentina in international rugby union competitions, such as a third-placed finish in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the governing body of rugby in Argentina, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), campaigned for inclusion in SANZAR's Tri Nations competition. In 2011, it was announced that the competition would be expanded to include Argentina, which resulted in the competition being rebranded as The Rugby Championship[1] and Argentina competed in the competition for the first time in 2012.

There was still no professional league in Argentina per rules of the Argentine Rugby Union. The UAR launched a team called the Pampas XV that participated in the South African Vodacom Cup competition from 2010 to 2013, winning the competition in 2011 with an 11-match unbeaten run.[2] The team withdrew from the competition at the end of 2013 due to financial considerations,[3] but was relaunched to participate in the Pacific Rugby Cup from 2014 onwards.[4] They won the competition in 2014[5] and 2015 (as the rebranded World Rugby Pacific Challenge).[6]

Despite the performances of the Pampas XV, the UAR still campaigned to have teams included in the Super Rugby competition.[7][8] Since SANZAR sold the existing Super Rugby package to its broadcasters for the period 2011–15, it meant that no changes to the format would be permitted until the 2016 season.[9]

Super Rugby

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In 2013, SANZAR CEO Greg Peters announced that Super Rugby would be expanded in the 2016 season, adding that the South African franchise the Southern Kings would be one of the expansion teams.[10] In early 2014, SANZAR confirmed that Super Rugby would be increased from 15 to 18 teams starting from the 2016 season, with an Argentine team getting one of the additional spots. The team would be based in Buenos Aires and that they would participate in the South African Conference.[11] Japan was granted the license for the 18th franchise in October 2014[12] and the new expanded format and three new teams were formally approved by the SANZAR Executive Committee in November 2014.[13] In 2018 the team recorded 7 wins in a row. In 2019 the team played their first ever Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in Christchurch where the Jaguares were defeated 19-3.

Team results by season

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Jaguares season by season record
Season Pos Finals P W L D F A -/+ BP Pts
2016 13th 15 4 11 0 376 427 –51 6 22
2017 10th 15 7 8 0 404 386 +18 5 33
2018 7th Qualifiers 17 9 8 0 432 458 –26 2 38
2019 2nd Runners Up 19 13 6 0 461 352 109 7 51

Player scoring records

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Season Most tries Most points
Name Tries Name Points
2016   Agustín Creevy
  Martín Landajo
6   Nicolás Sánchez 142
2017   Agustín Creevy 5   Nicolás Sánchez 89
2018   Emiliano Boffelli
  Bautista Delguy
10   Nicolás Sánchez 161
2019   Ramiro Moyano 7   Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 119

Honours

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Super Rugby

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  • Runners-up (1)

2019

  • South African Conference winners (1)

2019

Name and colours

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The name was initially scheduled to be revealed at the end of July 2015, before being postponed to after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. On 16 December 2015, it was announced that the team would be known as the Jaguares. The name Jaguares was chosen to represent cunning, skill and power. According to the Jaguares official website, "Their sharp instinct and their intelligence make the Jaguares the ideal symbol for our team."[14] The name is also a tribute to the crest of the Argentine Rugby Union, which appears on the jerseys of all Argentina national teams, and as a Spanish translation to the nation side Jaguars.[15]

The name Jaguares is cognate with the English 'jaguars', which originates in the South American languages Tupi, Guaraní, Spanish, and Portuguese. The Spanish version yaguares or yaguaretés is always written with an initial y, and the first appearances of the word written with a j were after transliterations into English.

Stadium

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The José Amalfitani Stadium during a rugby match between Argentina 'A' and England 'A' in 2013.
 
José Amalfitani Stadium during the Jaguares' home debut versus New Zealand's Chiefs (2016 Super Rugby season)

The Jaguares are based in Buenos Aires and their home ground is the 49,540-capacity José Amalfitani Stadium.

2020 squad

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The squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season was:[16]

Jaguares Super Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, DEV denotes a development squad player, ST denotes a short-term signing.
All team players are Argentine, unless otherwise noted.

Current coaching staff

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The following coaching team was announced by the Argentine Rugby Union for the 2020 Super Rugby season:

Name Title
  Gonzalo Quesada Head coach
  Juan Fernández Miranda Assistant coach
  Andrés Bordoy Assistant coach

Previous coaches

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Since introduction in 2016
Coach Period G W L D % Honours Ref.
  Raúl Pérez 2015 – 2017 30 11 19 0 036.67
  Mario Ledesma 10 October 2017 – 1 August 2018 17 9 8 0 052.94 [17][18]
  Gonzalo Quesada 9 August 2018 – 5 June 2020 26 16 9 1 061.54 [19][20]

Jaguares XV

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Jaguares XV
 
UnionArgentine Rugby Union
Nickname(s)The Jaguares
Founded2019; 5 years ago (2019)
Disbanded25 December 2022
LocationBuenos Aires, Argentina
RegionArgentina
Ground(s)José Amalfitani Stadium (Capacity: 49,540)
Coach(es)Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
Captain(s)Tomás Cubilla
League(s)SLAR
20211st
Playoffs
Champions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1st kit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd kit
Official website
www.jaguares.com.ar

In June 2019, it was confirmed that a Jaguares' development team called Jaguares XV would participate in the First Division of the Currie Cup, South Africa's premier domestic championship.[21] Following the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Currie Cup was delayed and the first division of the competition cancelled, meaning the Jaguares XV did not compete in 2020.[22] For the 2021 season, the Jaguares XV will compete in Súper Liga Americana de Rugby, replacing Ceibos as Argentina's franchise in the competition.[23][24] On 23 January, it was confirmed that Ignacio Fernández Lobbe would coach the side in the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season. Fernández Lobbe had previously coached Ceibos in the 2020 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season.[25]

On 25 December 2022, the Jaguares XV divided to multiply the base of Argentine rugby and enhance regional competition. As part of the transformations of the new Super Rugby Americas, which will replace the American Super League, the Argentine franchise was divided into Pampas, from Buenos Aires, and Dogos XV, from Córdoba. Putting a definitive end to the Jaguares franchise.[26]

The Jaguares XV squad for the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season is:[27]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Bautista Bernasconi Hooker   Argentina
Andrea Panzarini Hooker   Argentina
Ignacio Ruiz Hooker   Argentina
Lautaro Caro Saisi Prop   Argentina
Javier Coronel Prop   Argentina
Adrian Delgado Prop   Argentina
Hugo García Prop   Argentina
Mateo Nuñez Miseres Prop   Argentina
Nicolás Revol Pitt Prop   Argentina
Santiago Pulella Prop   Argentina
Martín Villar Prop   Argentina
Mayco Vivas Prop   Argentina
Lucio Anconetani Lock   Argentina
Manuel Bernstein Lock   Argentina
Rodrigo Fernández Criado Lock   Argentina
Pedro Rubiolo Lock   Argentina
Lautaro Simes Lock   Argentina
Aitor Bildosola Back row   Argentina
Elisio Chiavassa Back row   Argentina
Jerónimo Gómez Vara Back row   Argentina
Juan Bautista Pedemonte Back row   Argentina
Santiago Ruiz Back row   Argentina
Player Position Union
Mateo Albanese Scrum-half   Argentina
Rafael Iriarte Scrum-half   Argentina
Joaquín Pellandini Scrum-half   Argentina
Juan Cruz Strada Scrum-half   Argentina
Tomás Suárez Folch Fly-half   Argentina
Santiago Mare Fly-half   Argentina
Juan Pablo Castro Centre   Argentina
Juan Corso Centre   Argentina
Tomás Cubilla (c) Centre   Argentina
Agustín Segura Centre   Argentina
Martín Bogado Wing   Argentina
Iñaki Delguy Wing   Argentina
Nicanor López Fernández Wing   Argentina
Francisco Pisani Wing   Argentina
Ignacio Mendy Fullback   Argentina
Gerónimo Prisciantelli Fullback   Argentina
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for Argentina on dual nationality or residency grounds.

Honours

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  • Currie Cup First Division (1)

2019

  • Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (1)

2021

  • Challenge Cup of the Americas (1)

2022

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ""The Rugby Championship" to replace Tri Nations". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Pampas XV win Vodacom Cup!". SuperSport. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Pampas out of Vodacom Cup". Sport24. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Plantel de Seniors para la temporada 2014" (Press release) (in Spanish). Unión Argentina de Rugby. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Argentina Pampas win Pacific Rugby Cup". Asia Rugby Football Union. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Argentina Pampas defend Pacific Challenge title". World Rugby. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Super Rugby may accept Argentinian teams in 2016". Guardian. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Pichot: Argentina in Super Rugby is a no brainer". SuperXV. 23 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Super Rugby going global". Sydney Daily Telegraph. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  10. ^ "SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016". Herald Sun. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Search begins for 18th Super Rugby team" (Press release). SANZAR. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Super Rugby: Japan chosen to host new franchise from 2016". BBC. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Japan and Argentina officially join Super Rugby" (Press release). SANZAR. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Why Jagueres?". Jaguares. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Google Translate". translate.google.co.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Jaguares comienza la pretemporada" (Press release) (in Spanish). Jaguares. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Mario Ledesma to become head coach of Los Jaguares". Sky Sports. 10 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Mario Ledesma returns to Argentina to take over as head coach of the Jaguares". News.com.au. 11 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Jaguares appoint Quesada as head coach". Yahoo Sports. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  20. ^ "'Speedy Gonzalo' returns to Argentina as Jaguares coach". Rugby.com.au. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  21. ^ "Se confirmó el fixture para la First Division de la Currie Cup" (Press release) (in Spanish). Jaguares. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  22. ^ Byron, George (24 July 2020). "Currie Cup First Division rugby canned for 2020". Herald Live. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Jaguares to play in Súper Liga Americana de Rugby". Americas Rugby News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  24. ^ @JaguaresARG (23 January 2021). "¡Vuelve #JaguaresXV, vuelve el rugby a la región! El equipo participará en la @SLARugby junto a las franquicias de Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay y Uruguay en el certamen continental que se disputará, entre el 16 de marzo y el 15 de mayo, en dos sedes fijas a definir" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Prominent Argentine names confirmed as head coaches for all SLAR teams". Americas Rugby News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Jaguares se divide para multiplicar la base del rugby argentino y potenciar la competencia regional". La Nacion. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Formidable Jaguares XV roster named for SLAR 2022". Americas Rugby News. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
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