Argentino, the URBA club that promotes rugby in the National Soccer Capital

Independent and Racing They are two of the five greats that Argentine football has. Their stadiums separated by just 300 meters, they compete in one of the most exciting classics in a town that is also home to promotion teams such as Sarandí Arsenal, Dock Sud, San Telmo, El Porvenir or Victoriano Arenas.

For this, for its football culture and for its almost 120 neighborhood clubs, Avellaneda was declared by law in 2020 as the National Capital of Football.

But rugby also has its place and is gaining more and more prominence. Proof of this is the Argentine Rugby Clubwhich was founded in 1977, achieved two promotions in three seasons and is enjoying auspicious growth that it hopes to sustain in the coming years.

“We were visitors everywhere”: the difficult mission of consolidating in Avellaneda

Setting up shop in the neighborhood was not easy for CAR. His first steps were taken in a modest borrowed space in the park. Villa Dominico. With contributions from members, dinners to raise funds and a car raffle, in 1979 He bought a property at kilometer 43.5 of Route 2, closer to La Plata than to his roots. “We always charge the founders who would have raised more money to buy closer”he jokes Carlos Duarteits president.

Just in 1987, Argentinean It was founded in its current headquarters on Eva Duarte de Perón Street, near a famous shopping center and surrounded by the UBA, the Tita Mattiussi Racing property and the La Estación Municipal Park. But it was not until shortly before the pandemic that he stopped playing in the annex (which he still has) and that was undoubtedly one of the keys to the transformation in recent times.

“We were visitors everywhere. I thought we were all from Avellaneda and that we were going to play at home at that property when the highway didn’t exist. That’s how the club was formed.”remember Rodrigo Reymondes, son of a founder, former boss and for a few years a councilor at URBA. “We lost a lot of kids. It was worse than going as a visitor, because maybe it was closer. Always buses, always money… many stopped playing”Duarte agrees.

For 201730 years after settling in the neighborhood, a key step is taken for the Tinowhich acquires the deeds and receives extra land that belonged to the old railroad. At will, with members dismantling sheds, filling in land and some donations, to 2021 A third court is inaugurated.

The same year, it affiliated women’s hockey with the Metropolitano and bought the synthetic grass from San Martín. Now, and with the modernization of the gym and common spaces, more and more boys and girls enjoy the sport and social life of the club, but close to home. “It is our ‘Moon of Avellaneda'”Reymondes describes with pride and romanticism, remembering the classic film starring Ricardo Darín.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for Argentinean It is the recruitment of players from the children’s level. Unlike what happens in other locations, in Avellaneda There are no schools with a rugby tradition and, with so much football and other disciplines on offer, it is quite a challenge. “Children join later. Before they came at 8, 10 years old and now at 13, 14, 15 they are starting in the sport. We are understanding this new logic that the boys try different sports until they arrive and stay here”they explained.

On the contrary, there is a kind of loyalty. Today, the club is achieving retain to a large part of the litters of juveniles that go up to the Senior Squad. This is partly explained by the good results of recent years. So much so that, sometimes, it is possible to put together a Preintermediate Dsomething no small thing for a team in this division.

Two promotions in three years

After almost a decade fighting in the middle of the table and without many prospects in Group II (today Second), the CAR took a real leap in quality and achieved two promotions in just three years: in 2022took the title in Second and already in 2024 was consecrated in First C. His first season in the third division (First B) was in this 2025 and the balance was more than positive, with a ninth place and out of the risk zone.

“What has made this good moment in recent years is that the boys make an effort and want to play. Before, half quit. Today they are motivated and want to continue because they can study, work and play rugby”Duarte commented.

“Here he was like a Puma”: Nahuel Clausen, from the Primera B of the URBA to Pampas

On date 7 of the last Super Rugby Americas, Juan Manuel Leguizamón surprised with the inclusion of Nahuel Clausen. The winger came to the squad as a guest, but he liked him in training, scoring a hattrick in his debut against Brazilian cobras and it stayed.

the son of Nestor Clausen – world champion soccer player with Argentina in Mexico 1986 and emblematic Independiente player – put Argentinean on the radar like few times and became an icon of his club.

“It was a total joy. Here he was like a Puma. A total satisfaction from what we provide for the kids to grow sportingly and humanly. The little ones want to imitate him, they want to be like him. For the older ones it also works because they see that you play in a recently promoted First C team and they see you. They know that you exist and you have a chance that they will call you one day. Obviously Nahuel has fantastic conditions, he has the blood of a World Champion”Duarte noted.

What are the CAR classics?

For your crosses over the years, Argentino’s main rivalries were in the neighboring party of Quilmes. “When we played the classic they were CUQ and Don Bosco. “After many years we met again in this category and the relationship with both of them is very good.”remembers Duarte.

However, he explained that he also “there is a classic with Lanus by proximity” and for Jorge Farfallawho promoted rugby in both institutions. “Horse” was founder of Lanus and even the Viking field is named after him. But he also spent a few years in CAR until he returned to his first love.

From 2022with the rise of Tino to First C, it was agreed that each crossing would put into play the Jorge Farfalla Cup. In July 2023shortly before his death, the emblem that united two institutions was able to enjoy the tribute that both paid to him during his lifetime.

Today, there is a new club in the neighborhood that could build a derby in the future. It is about Avellaneda Rugby Clubwho was born in 2012 as a project of the Municipality’s sports area and His first militia in the URBA Training. In turn, it includes children, youth, women and veterans. In short, more people from the area playing.

This is how they see it from Argentinean: “We are interested in rugby growing in Avellaneda and everywhere. We coexist perfectly. We have played friendlies and for a long time when they did not have the field enabled, we have lent our fields without any problem”.

The contribution of Pope Morel and the legends of Los Pumas

Without a doubt, a separate chapter in the recent history of Argentinean deserve Fernando Morel. Popeemblem of CASI and Los Pumasapproached the club at the end of 2014 as an ambassador for a materials brand and quickly connected with its people.

“Much of the ten years that we have been growing sports, Pope has been very involved”says Duarte. “First he came to chat, then he started helping in the scrum and stayed. He was coach of the Primera for two years”. For the president, there is no doubt that Morel’s appearance “directly or indirectly, clicked” in it CAR. And explained: “We all have the same school, the coaches teach in one way. There is a line of how to teach”.

“We all fell in love”Reymondes adds about Morel. “He spent four years coming every week. In that good relationship he made us meet Pumas who played with him, like Hugo Porta, Chapa Branca, Tano Loffreda, Gabriel Travaglini… We learned a lot from all of them”. A bond that undoubtedly helped the Avellaneda team reach a new level, not as a team, but as a club.

The future of Argentino: consolidate his moment and tread safely

Thinking about posterity, it is clear to the leadership that the growth of Argentinean and a sport “unaffiliated” The neighborhood must be progressive and lay the foundations to have solid foundations. Building on a good present is undoubtedly a great starting point and that is where the institution points. Meanwhile, rugby plans a tour to Europe in 2027 to celebrate the first 50 years of life.

“We have no intention of having more land because it is impossible. Our days are going to be resolved here. We have a lot of work to do, we have to grow upwards because there is not much space left”Duarte commented. And on a sporting level? “We want to grow in numbers of players, stay in this category for a few years and continue to rise but as long as we manage to promote children, youth and that they arrive prepared for First Division“.

Tomorrow – like yesterday and today – the round ball will continue to be the fascination of almost all of Avellaneda. But, In the National Football Capital, rugby has already won its place and is pushing harder and harder.