Los Pumas: Passion, progress, and the quest for consistency

From plucky underdogs to global contenders, Los Pumas have transformed Argentine rugby into a force to be reckoned with in the couple of decades. 

Historic 2025 wins against the British & Irish Lions in Dublin and the All Blacks in Buenos Aires have raised expectations sky-high. Yet, moments like the late collapse against Australia in Townsville reveal a lingering challenge: sustaining elite performance.  

“It’s an honor that the world sees us as contenders,” Francisco Rubio, Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) Director of Rugby, told RugbyPass.  

Hooker explains his approach heading into NZ Test

Hooker explains his approach heading into NZ Test

Can Los Pumas harness their fiery passion to achieve the consistency of rugby’s elite? 

A Rollercoaster of Triumphs and Near-Misses 

Los Pumas’ 2025 season encapsulates their meteoric rise and persistent growing pains. They opened with a stunning victory over the British & Irish Lions, a first in Dublin, showcasing their attacking flair and physicality. Yet, with a rotated squad, they fell to a depleted England side, missing a chance to cement their dominance. In The Rugby Championship, they suffered a loss to the All Blacks but rebounded with a historic home win against New Zealand—their first ever on Argentine soil. 

The Townsville match against Australia last Saturday epitomized their inconsistency. For 40 minutes, Los Pumas overwhelmed the Wallabies with relentless scrums and lightning-fast backs, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. But a second-half resurgence saw Australia claw back, scoring deep into overtime to snatch victory. 

“It deflated everybody,” recalls Daniel Hourcade, former Pumas coach (2013-2017) and Sudamérica Rugby High Performance Manager.

“Today, the top seven nations – Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, Ireland, and France – are so evenly matched that anyone can win or lose on any day.” 

The Argentine DNA: Passion as Strength and Flaw 

Why do Los Pumas struggle to close out games after big wins? Esteban Minoyetti, a cultural analyst and leadership coach, points to Argentina’s “idiosyncratic rugby identity.”  

“After moments of heroism, we allow ourselves to rest, as if we’ve earned it,” he explains.

“Unlike Anglo-Saxon cultures that prize disciplined consistency, Latin passion drives us—but it’s harder to control.” 

This “soft emotional strength” makes Argentine players invaluable overseas, often chosen as club captains for their ability to inspire and to lead.  

Yet, Minoyetti notes, “Passion is a double-edged sword. You breathe fire on the field, ready to die for the sport you love, but that intensity can wane, leading to mental lapses.”  

The tears during anthems, once a hallmark of Los Pumas’ fervor, still flow—but their challenge is maintaining that focus for all 80 minutes. 

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Building a Rugby Powerhouse 

Argentina’s rise is no fluke. The UAR’s high-performance programs have transformed the sport’s ecosystem.

Over 500 well-organized clubs across the country host competitive tournaments, with the national union, through its 25 provincial unions scouting talent as young as U16. Promising players feed into provincial and then national academies, national age grade teams, with the best then promoted to Super Rugby Americas—a professional league that’s become a crucible for international stars both in Argentina, as well as Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil.

Most of the current Pumas squad emerged from this pipeline, with many rounding out their skills in top European clubs. 

In 2025, Los Pumitas U20s finished third in the Junior Championship, and Argentina Sevens won the HSBC Series, signaling depth across the board. A new Player Development and Welfare department supports every UAR team, from the Yaguaretes (women’s 7s) to Argentina XV and Los Pumas.  

“Argentina now takes the field expecting to win,” Rubio says. “Before, we celebrated worthy defeats. Now, fans are upset when we don’t triumph.” 

Coaching Evolution and Mental Resilience 

Felipe Contepomi, who took over as head coach in 2024, embodies this transformation. A former star at Leinster, he honed his coaching craft there, earning what would be considered a Master’s Degree in the process.

After assisting Michael Cheika in 2022 and 2023, Contepomi led Los Pumas to landmark 2024 victories: a record-breaking score against Australia, wins over South Africa and the All Blacks, and a near-upset in Dublin marred only by a controversial call. 

Yet, the question of mental resilience persists. Hourcade reflects on his own tenure: “In the 2015 Rugby World Cup, we finished fourth, but we weren’t truly the fourth-best team. Today, we compete with parity against everyone.”  

He argues that mental lapses are less about failure and more about the game’s growing competitiveness. “You’re always adjusting—between matches, even within a match. The stakes are higher now and you are playing against the best teams in the world all the time.” 

Controlling passion is a hard task. Argentine players’ emotional leadership shines in club rugby abroad; sustaining it at Test level requires new strategies. The UAR’s welfare programs now include mental conditioning to help players channel their fire into disciplined focus. 

The Final Hurdle 

Are Los Pumas failing, or is their passionate DNA both their strength and Achilles’ heel?  

Their progress is undeniable: a robust development system, a world-class coach, and a track record of upsetting giants. Yet, the Townsville collapse and similar stumbles suggest that mastering the mental game remains the final frontier. 

As Hourcade puts it, “Beating a big team used to shock the system. Now, you can win every game—and when you don’t, questions arise. They shouldn’t.”  

Los Pumas are on the cusp of greatness, blending Latin passion with professional systems. The challenge now is to sustain that coolness under pressure, every time, for all 80 minutes. It’s a hard task—but one this team is built to conquer.