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Argentina national rugby union team

The Argentina national rugby union team represents the Argentine Rugby Union in men's international competitions, The Argentine Rugby Union. Officially nicknamed Los Pumas, they play in sky blue and white jerseys. They are ranked 5th in the world by World Rugby, making them by some distance the highest-ranked nation in the Americas.

History
, 12 June 1910 The History of the Argentina national team starts with the first international played by an Argentine side against the British Isles in 1910 when they toured on South America. Argentina gained recognition in 1965, when the team toured South Africa playing a series of friendly matches there. In that tour the national team was nicknamed Los Pumas, a name that became an identity mark for Argentina, remaining to present days. Argentina has taken part in all the Rugby World Cups since the first edition in 1987, their best performance being the third place achieved in 2007. Argentina followed their growing competitiveness in the Rugby Championship with a strong showing in the 2015 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the second time. The national side has also played in the Rugby Championship since the 2012 edition, after joining the competition one year before. == Colours, symbol and name ==
Colours, symbol and name
wearing the light blue and white jersey for the first time on 31 July 1927 Argentina alternated blue and white jerseys during its first international matches in 1910. In 1927 Mr. Abelardo Gutiérrez of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires proposed that Argentina should play against the British Lions wearing a striped light blue and white jersey. That request was accepted and Argentina wore the striped uniform for the first time in its history. Los Pumas play in a shirt in the country's flag (and sporting) colours of light blue and white, white shorts, and socks in light blue and white. In 2011, the UAR signed a deal with Nike which became the exclusive kit provider for all its national senior and youth teams, including Pampas XV. The first uniform designed by the American company left the traditional horizontal-striped jersey behind, featuring a single light blue with white shoulders jersey, although it was announced that Los Pumas would wear its traditional uniform again when they play the 2012 Rugby Championship. , native to northeastern Argentina was chosen as the symbol of the team in 1941 In September 1941, Abelardo Gutiérrez (who had proposed the use of a white and blue jersey for the team 14 years prior) suggested a badge with the figure of a lion. The color of the crest was blue (due to Buenos Aires Cricket Club, where the first rugby match in Argentina had been played). The animal was later replaced by a native to Argentine species, so the jaguar was chosen due to his "agility and courage", according to their words. until 2023). In April 2023, the UAR launched its new visual identity that included a change of emblems not only of the body but of the national teams, from senior to 7s and youth representatives. The process included the substitution of the characteristic jaguar figure with the puma, used as a namesake for the team since the 1965 tour in Rhodesia and South Africa. That same year the UAR released the Pumas' away kit inspired by the uniform of the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment, the Argentine military unit and presidential honor guard established in 1812. The away kit was worn at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Kit suppliers ==Home grounds==
Home grounds
The Pumas use a variety of stadiums when playing at home. One of the most frequently used for tests is José Amalfitani Stadium, home of Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield and sited in Buenos Aires. When Great Britain made their first tour to Argentina in 1910, the national team played them at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina of Palermo. That test was also notable for being the first Argentina match ever. When the British combined returned to Argentina in 1927, the national side started to use GEBA and Buenos Aires Cricket Club as their home venues. GEBA was a frequent venue during the next decades, but hosted only three matches after the 1960s, as the Pumas started using larger stadiums; the Pumas' last match at GEBA was in 1993. On the other side, the Buenos Aires Cricket was also used for a large number of matches until 1948 when it was destroyed by fire. In 1997 BACRC inaugurated the first purpose-built rugby union stadium in Argentina, erected in Los Polvorines, Greater Buenos Aires. A total of nine international games were played there by the national team until 2005 when it was sold. Los Pumas played in Ferro Carril Oeste stadium between 1970 and 1986, when Argentina moved to Vélez Sarsfield Stadium. Some of the teams that visited those venues were Ireland, New Zealand, France, and Australia among others. During the mid year tests in 2007, as well as Vélez Sársfield, Argentina played games at venues including Brigadier Estanislao López in Santa Fe, Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, and Gigante de Arroyito, in Rosario. Argentina have also used the River Plate Stadium in the past, and in 2006 hosted Wales at Estadio Raúl Conti in Puerto Madryn. Other venues that have hosted Argentina rugby team were José M. Minella in Mar del Plata (2008), Monumental José Fierro in Tucumán (2012, 2014), Mario Kempes in Córdoba (2012), Centenario in Resistencia (2014), Padre Martearena in Salta (venue for The Rugby Championship, 2016–2019 editions), Estadio del Bicentenario in San Juan –where the team played tests v England and Wales (2017–18), and Estanislao López in Santa Fe (2017). ==Records==
Records
Overall When the world rankings were introduced by the IRB in October 2003, Argentina were ranked seventh. They fell to eighth in the rankings in June 2004, before rising back to seventh by November that year. They fell back to eighth in February 2005, and stayed there until falling to their lowest ranking of ninth in February 2006. Since then, Argentina rose to eighth in July 2006, then sixth in November of that year. They had a one-week fall to seventh, then one week later rose to fifth to start the World Cup 2007. Los Pumas twice surpassed their highest ranking at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Defeating number three France, the second opening game loss for a World Cup hosting nation, moved them into fourth place, their highest position since the IRB World Rankings were established. They lost to eventual champions South Africa in the semi-final but beat France yet again in the bronze medal round to set another highest ranking, third, behind South Africa and New Zealand. Argentina has won every match against South American national teams, including 41 against Uruguay, 40 against Chile, 17 against Paraguay and 13 against Brazil. On 14 November 2020, they registered their first win against New Zealand, meaning that they have recorded a victory over every Tier 1 nation. Rugby World Cup The Rugby Championship Updated: 5 October 2025 Series played ==Players==
Players
clash with Italy Current squad On 21 October, Argentina named a 32-player squad ahead of their November tests against Wales, Scotland and England. Head coach: Felipe Contepomi • Caps and clubs updated to: 16 November 2025 (after Scotland v Argentina) Hall of fame Four former Argentina international players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. • Hugo Porta : (Inducted in 2008)Agustín Pichot : (Inducted in 2011)Felipe Contepomi : (Inducted in 2017)Juan Martín Hernández : (Inducted in 2023) One player was also inducted into the previous incarnation, the International Rugby Hall of Fame. • Hugo Porta : (Inducted in 1997) Award winners The following Argentina players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: ==Coaches==
Coaches
The following people have served in the head coach role for Argentina: • Edmundo Stanfield (1932) • Luis Cilley (1936) • Carlos Huntley-Robertson (1936) • Edmundo Stanfield (1936) • Juan C. Wells (1954) • Dermot Cavanagh (1956) • Horacio Savino (1956) • Jorge Merelle (1959) • Robert Galarga (1960) • Saturnino Racimo (1960) • Izak van Heerden (1965) • Ángel Guastella (1965–1973) • Carlos Villegas (1974) • Eduardo Poggi (1975) • Carlos Villegas (1976–1977) • Ángel Guastella (1978) • Aitor Otaño (1978–1980) • Rodolfo O'Reilly (1980–1983) • Héctor Silva (1983–1987)1987 RWC • Rodolfo O'Reilly (1987–1990) • Luis Gradín (1990–1993)1991 RWCHéctor Méndez (1993–1994) • Alejandro Petra (1994–1995)1995 RWCAlex Wyllie (1995) • Héctor Méndez (1995) • Alex Wyllie (1995–1999)1999 RWCMarcelo Loffreda (2000–2007)2003 RWC; 2007 RWCSantiago Phelan (2008–2013) 2011 RWCDaniel Hourcade (2013–2018)2015 RWCMario Ledesma (2018–2022)2019 RWCMichael Cheika (2022–2023)2023 RWCFelipe Contepomi (2023–present) ==Player records (career)==
Player records (career)
Most matches was the first Argentine player to reach 100 caps in international rugby. Last updated: England vs Argentina, 23 November 2025. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Most tries is the player who scored more tries in the history of Rugby World Cup for Argentina (7) Last updated: Argentina vs South Africa, 4 October 2025. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Most points , all-time top scorer for Argentina (902) Last updated: England vs Argentina, 23 November 2025. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Most matches as captain Last updated: England vs Argentina, 23 November 2025. Statistics include officially capped matches only. ==Player records (match)==
Player records (match)
Most points in a match Last updated: Ireland vs Argentina, 15 November 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Most tries in a match Last updated: Ireland vs Argentina, 15 November 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. ==See also==
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