The UAR Signs 10 players on Professional Contracts

[Melhor Time]

Argentina now has 10 players signed to the union as professionals.

History has been made.

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2012/02/uar-signs-10-players-on-professional.html

UAR Professionals

1 Gabriel Ascárate (Natación y Gimnasia, Tucumán)
2 Tomás Cubelli (Belgrano Athletic, Buenos Aires)
3 Tomas de la Vega (CUBA, Buenos Aires)
4 Julio Farías Cabello (Tucumán RC, Tucumán)
5 Genaro Fessia (Cordoba Athletic, Cordoba)
6 Mariano Galarza (La Plata)
7 Santiago Guzmán (Tucumán RC, Tucumán)
8 Martín Landajo (CASI, Buenos Aires)
9 Tomás Leonardi (SIC, Buenos Aires)
10 Bruno Postiglioni (La Plata RC, Buenos Aires)

 

[Bail]

What's the difference with Pampas XV ?

 

[Melhor Time]

What's the difference with Pampas XV ?

The players featured for Los Pampas XV receive pay - but it is small. Enough to train full time and get by but not anything like what professionals get - even playing for second division teams. The ten players who have signed with the UAR will be on significantly larger salaries and will have special treatment which will mean they are playing professionally to the same extent as players involved in teams liker Leicester, Sale, Biarritz and Stade Français.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well, not really. Being pro is all well and good, but unless they're competing in a pro league they're not on the same footing as Argentines playing abroad. They won't be playing against high quality opposition week in, week out, which is just as important as the conditioning and attention they will get as fully professional players.

I assume they'll all be playing for Pampas?

 

[Melhor Time]

Well, not really. Being pro is all well and good, but unless they're competing in a pro league they're not on the same footing as Argentines playing abroad. They won't be playing against high quality opposition week in, week out, which is just as important as the conditioning and attention they will get as fully professional players.

I assume they'll all be playing for Pampas?

They are all in Los Pampas XV.

The UAR is in the process of going professional and signing these players is a key part. Argentina will have pro rugby soon.

 

[Feicarsinn]

They are all in Los Pampas XV.

The UAR is in the process of going professional and signing these players is a key part. Argentina will have pro rugby soon.

10 players is a long way from having pro rugby though. Does the UAR know how they want to implement it? I'd assume that they don't have enough money to launch a fully pro league, so that'd mean cooperation with one of the SANZAR countries. I can't see the South Africans wanting to change the Currie Cup, Australia has no domestic competition and New Zealand seems to have enough problems at the moment with its domestic rugby scene (boy, I can see that causing a stir). Seeing how unhappy people seem to be with the current Super 15, I'd imagine that trying to get a team or two into a expanded Super rugby format would be the way to go forward.

 

[Melhor Time]

10 players is a long way from having pro rugby though. Does the UAR know how they want to implement it? I'd assume that they don't have enough money to launch a fully pro league, so that'd mean cooperation with one of the SANZAR countries. I can't see the South Africans wanting to change the Currie Cup, Australia has no domestic competition and New Zealand seems to have enough problems at the moment with its domestic rugby scene (boy, I can see that causing a stir). Seeing how unhappy people seem to be with the current Super 15, I'd imagine that trying to get a team or two into a expanded Super rugby format would be the way to go forward.

There are two things to point out. The first is that you have highlighted what the UAR have said they want - a Super Rugby team. Planning is in the works. Argentina does also have the resources to have a professional competition. Professional can mean a number of things and it does not mean it has to be a great prodcut similar to the Top 14. A smaller product like that in Italy works too. Argentina already has a great domestic set up - far, far, far better than Australia. It could go pro easily enough and should indeed do so.

The second is that the UAR has signed the ten players it has to keep them in Argentina so that they are always avaliable and they are seen as the start of the turning point in the new phase of Argentine rugby. They are the first batch of player to be kept at home rather than being exported to Europe. This is crucial remembering how many of Los Pampas XV have been leaving.

Gabriel Ascárate - had a trial this year with bayonne and also almost signed with Lyon.
Tomás Cubelli - scrumhalf with Pumas written all over him.
Tomas de la Vega - loads of potential as a genuine fetcher
Julio Farías Cabello - recieved multiple offers to play in England and France after the World Cup.
Genaro Fessia - joined London Wasps before the World Cup. Was released due to his salary.
Mariano Galarza - played briefly for Leinster. Got few chances. The guy is quality and will be around for years.
Santiago Guzmán - almost joined Stade Français last season. Missed out due to injury.
Martín Landajo - quality scrumhalf. Better than Lalane who went to the World Cup.
Tomás Leonardi - good 8 or 6. Played vs Wales and England in 2009.
Bruno Postiglioni - good hooker. Likely to be Creevy´s replacement this year.

 

[welshglory]

Would super rugby teams in Argentina, USA and Japan be a smart idea? I mean it would probably be a good stop gap in developing pro rugby but the logistics would be kind of ridiculous.

 

[Melhor Time]

Would super rugby teams in Argentina, USA and Japan be a smart idea? I mean it would probably be a good stop gap in developing pro rugby but the logistics would be kind of ridiculous.

It would be fine as it would be conference based. i.e. less travel. Similar to how the NFL works albeit on a larger scale.

If Super Rugby would be restructed to be more like the Heineken Cup then it could really work well by having the competition spread so that the travelling is over a logner period with the players having games in their national competitions in the meantime.