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Jaguares players told to consider options as franchise's future remains uncertain
Jaguares midfielder Jeronimo de la Fuente has revealed players at the franchise have been told by the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) that they are free to take up offers from offshore clubs to continue playing rugby.
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The Argentinian side have been left in a difficult position following the indefinite suspension of the 2020 Super Rugby season, which will almost certainly be cancelled as members of SANZAAR prepare their own domestic leagues in its place.
New Zealand Rugby have launched Super Rugby Aotearoa, a competition featuring its five franchises that is set to kick off on June 13.
Across the Tasman Sea, Rugby Australia have confirmed the addition of the Western Force to their four Super Rugby sides for a domestic competition that is anticipating for kick-off in early July.
The Sunwolves had previously hoped to take part in the Australian league, but an announcement made on Monday said the Tokyo-based franchise wouldn’t partake in the competition.
In South Africa, meanwhile, plans are reportedly underway to get a similar domestic model up and running, which would presumably feature all four of their Super Rugby sides as well their two Pro14 clubs, the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
That leaves the Jaguares, last year’s runners-up to the Crusaders, without a domestic competition to take part in as they are the only Super Rugby team based out of Argentina.
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The travel restrictions that prevented the Sunwolves from joining the Australian league will also prevent the Jaguares from linking up with the South African sides, meaning they have no rugby to play for the foreseeable future.
Rugby Australia have confirmed that the Tokyo-based Sunwolves won't compete in the revised domestic Super Rugby competition.https://t.co/gVqzOZnbVM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 1, 2020
“They told us that if we had any possibility of emigrating that we take it and that the UAR was going to be predisposed to help us to be able to travel,” de la Fuente told ESPN in a recent interview.
“Next year is still a long way off and the possibilities are many. And the sadness that it can no longer be the same. It hurts me a lot to think that Jaguares does not exist anymore, that Super Rugby cannot play so I am positive from that side, that the solution will be found.”
Also speaking to ESPN, UAR president Marcelo Rodriguez remained hopeful about the Jaguares’ future chances of survival.
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“We are very optimistic. We thought about the Jaguares project very carefully, it was gradual and growing and we reached a very beautiful and dreamlike instance,” UAR president Marcelo Rodríguez said in a translated statement.
“The world surprised us, individually and collectively, as countries and continents, and poses a challenge to us with a new reality that we do not know where it is going to stay.
“We are sure that Jaguares in one way or another will be inserted in a competition that for the UAR is economically and financially sustainable. We are not going to put our stability at risk.”
Argentina and the Jaguares remain part of a 14-team Super Rugby competition sold by SANZAAR to its broadcasters from next year through to 2025, but the southern hemisphere’s global governing body has admitted changes could be made to accomodate for the coronavirus pandemic.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
91 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
91 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
2 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
91 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
91 Go to comments