Luciana Aranguiz
07/13/2020 - 21:15
- Clarín.com
- sports
The coronavirus pandemic affected all levels and all disciplines of Argentine sport. Some to a greater extent than others, all accused the coup. High-performance rugby was one of the hardest hit: the health crisis that froze all sports activity for months and jeopardized the economic stability of clubs and organizations became an immense threat to the survival of Jaguares , the Argentine franchise of the Super Rugby that in the midst of uncertainty about its future, continues to disarm.
From the beginning of June, the team had to let go of four key pieces: coach Gonzalo Quesada and three figures from the squad such as Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer and captain Jerónimo de la Fuente. And the flight would continue in the coming weeks because there would be several European clubs with many intentions to take other talented players who knew how to make their mark with the orange shirt.
Who would already have everything agreed in word to emigrate to English rugby is Matías Orlando . The tucumano, whose contract with the Argentine Rugby Union expires at the end of this season, would join Newcastle Falcons, one of the Premiership teams, in 2021 .
Orlando would have everything arranged to join the Newcastle Falcons, one of the England Premiership teams, next season. EFE Photo / Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
His departure would take place after the closure of the Rugby Championship , the great commitment of Los Pumas for this 2020, which due to the pandemic would be played between October and December (originally it had to start in August) in a single venue, probably New Zealand or Australia.
Orlando barely played a few minutes against Lions in Jaguares' debut in the 2020 edition of Super Rugby, suspended after the seventh date, before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to undergo surgery.
The Tucumán center is not the only one that could have a future on British soil. Although there is no official information about it yet, Leicester would be interested in hiring Julián Montoya and Matías Moroni. And Gloucester would have his eyes on Matías Alemanno. Although the second line from Cordoba would also be sought by Beziers from France, who would also look for Santiago Medrano.
Gallic rugby clubs are other possible destinations for various players. Emiliano Boffelli could join Racing 92 and Lucas Paulos and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Pau.
De la Fuente and Quesada, the last and the first to confirm the departure of the Argentine franchise. The captain and coach will continue their careers in France. Photo Alejandro Pagni / AFP
They would join the four who have already confirmed their outings and who will continue their careers in France. Quesada will be the new coach of Stade Francais, where he will lead Kremer. Petti will sign with Bordeaux and de la Fuente with Perpignan.
And not only the great figures of Jaguares began to change their plans for the future. Also some future stars, who did not get to add minutes with the Super Rugby team. In early June, Lucas Mensa, captain of Ceibos, the UAR's second franchise, who played in the American Super League, decided to continue his career at Valence Romans, in the French second division. And Facundo Cordero, Santiago's brother, also a member of Ceibos and with a past in Jaguars XV, will join Exeter Chiefs of England.
All will leave - or in some cases left - with the approval of the UAR, which, given the lack of competition for the pandemic, had no choice but to give its players the green light to negotiate contracts with European clubs, where the competition would restart in the coming months.
The growing indentation of players does nothing more than darken the future of Jaguares, who is not even sure about which tournament they will play next year.
Petti, wearing a hat, and Kremer, during a duel against Sharks in the 2019 edition of Super Rugby. The two will migrate to French rugby. Anesh Debiky / AFP photo
It is that after the suspension of Super Rugby in March by COVID-19 and after the success of the "domestic" versions that New Zealand and Australia tried so that their franchises would not stand still, more and more versions indicate that for 2021 that tournament would be restructured.
A week ago, the New Zealand site Newshub stated that the two ocean powers view the possibility of setting up a tournament with their franchises plus some more than one Pacific country, leaving out Jaguares, runner-up last year, and the teams South Africans.
Furthermore, South Africa - the other affected by this new idea of the oceanic - seems to have begun to look for alternatives for its franchises. One of those that would be being managed in that country would be the incorporation of Lions, Stormers, Sharks and Bulls to the Pro 14 contest, where they would compete with teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy.
Although neither is officially confirmed and the UAR assure that they continue to work intensively with SANZAAR to find a way for Super Rugby to continue with its current format, the two projects would leave Jaguares adrift.
With no chance of setting up a tournament of its own, as it is the only professional franchise in Argentina, the only option would be to try to join an already established competition, such as the European one South Africa is targeting. But distances do not help, because competing with an Argentine team always forces their rivals to make long trips when they must play as visitors. And the flight of talents also puts in check the hierarchy and the level of the establishment.
Wherever you look at it, the future of Jaguares seems increasingly complicated.
