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Argentina could join Super Rugby in the future
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Tricia McMillan
Academy Player
The article is kind of junk, to be honest, because it doesn't really say anything new (just my opinion on the article itself). The topic of Argentina having a professional team or conference in Super Rugby is a good one though. The sooner it happens the better. I'm sure we all want to see full-strength Pumas sides in the Rugby Championship next year and onwards; hopefully the European clubs for which the Argentine players play release them as they're supposed to.
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This is not the only source making this suggestion. ESPN and TVNZ have also said this could, and should be happening in the future.
IMO, they should try to start with two Argentine franchises, one in the NZ conference and the other in the Australian conference, and the two teams should be based in those countries the way the Pampas XV is in the Vodacom Cup. This would make these two conferences up to six teams in each, and this would allow the South Africans to bring in the Southern Kings to make theirs up to six.
Alternatively, if the Argentines can't make two conference, then SANZAR could bring in one from Japan or the Pacific Islands.
I certainly think its doable, but it can happen until after 2014 when the SANZAR Contract with News Limited is up for renegotiation. SANZAR and the UAR should be working toward that by contracting a dozen or so Argentine players into Super rugby across the whole competition.
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If the Crusaders can get 16,000 to a match against the the Lions, why could they not get a similar crowd to a match against an Argentine team? No disrespect to the Lions, but they ain't exactly a draw card in NZ are they?
Admittedly, the Argie matches against Aussie or Saffa teams might be a difficult sell, but that is only four matches. If they picked a home base, and marketed it properly, i.e. season tickets, flexible kick-off times, season tickets etc, they might go all right.
I'd be interest to know how the crowd figures were for the Pampas XV, and how much support they had. I know there were a couple of thousand at the final v Blue Bulls, and given that it is a third tier competition, thats quite a good crowd. Would we get 2000 to a Meads Cup or Lahore Cup match?
PS: the Week before the final, the Griquas vs Blue Bulls got 1,000, and the same the week before that for Gauteng Lions vs Blue Bulls.
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psychic duck
International
I meant the "home" matches for the Argentine sides would struggle to sell, even against NZ sides
the attendances for the Pampas XV "home" matches based in Potchefstroom weren't great
(from SA rugby.net)
800 v Griffons
500 - Blue Bulls
800 - Leopards
200 - Valke
200 - FS Cheetahs (quarter final)
300 - Sharks XV (semi final)
2000 - Blue Bulls (final)
I expect they would be higher than that as it was happening at the same time as Super Rugby and the sides that played Super Rugby were second string, but still not high enough
they need their matches in Argentina!
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