Into The Unkown: Where does the future of the Jaguares and Argentine rugby lie?

In a post-coronavirus world, where does the future of Argentine rugby lie?

That’s the question being asked by those in the South American powerhouse nation as news filters out about the prospect of the Jaguares being left behind in Super Rugby.

The COVID-19 outbreak has not only forced the 2020 Super Rugby season to come to an abrupt halt, but it’s brought on discussions about a competition overhaul.

The five New Zealand franchises will kick-off their own domestic campaign next Saturday, with the four Australian clubs and the Western Force set to follow early next month.

Support has grown in recent times for the two nations to join forces and create a trans-Tasman competition, which could also feature more teams from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite the Sunwolves’ unpopular exit from Super Rugby, alternative competition models have been proposed by prominent rugby figures in both New Zealand and Australia that features a Japanese presence of some kind.

Most recently, All Blacks veteran Sam Whitelock suggested the involvement of the best clubs from the star-studded Top League, which echoes the sentiments of Wallabies great Tim Horan.

The two-time World Cup-winning Australian went one step further, calling for the inclusion of sides from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to add a Pacific element to the competition.

As Australia and New Zealand weigh up a more locally-based future in pursuit of increasing playing quality and fan engagement, murmurings persist of a cross-hemisphere switch by South African clubs.

A fresh report from Rapport indicates that the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers could join Europe’s PRO14, a competition that already features the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, between 2021 and 2023.

Being in line with European time zones and easier access to the UK, Ireland and Italy would act as a key catalyst for a move away from New Zealand and Australia for South Africa’s franchises.

“We have always been very interested in South Africa. We like them and see them as a key part of our future,” PRO14 chief executive Martin Anayi told WalesOnline last week.

“The tournament works well at the moment but could work better if you add teams to it. So that’s one avenue potentially.”

"https://www.rugbypass.com/news/jaguares-players-told-to-consider-options-as-franchises-future-remains-uncertain/">In a recent interview with ESPN, Jaguares midfielder Jeronimo de la Fuente revealed the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) have told players at the franchise that they are free to explore their options overseas.

As the sole Argentine club in Super Rugby, coronavirus-enforced travel restrictions have nullified the Jaguares’ playing schedule for the remainder of the year.

Factor in their exclusion from conversations within New Zealand and Australian about an Asia-Pacific competition and South Africa’s imminent excursion into Europe, and the Jaguares are left bare of options of where to go and what to do beyond 2020.

There is hope in that Argentina are tied into SANZAAR’s upcoming broadcast deal that runs from 2021 to 2025, which features a 14-team Super Rugby competition including the Jaguares.

However, the economic and travel implications that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic could alter that course of action.

The suspension of Super Rugby in March, which has left us with almost three months without any rugby, has also allowed for conversations to take place about how the competition can be improved following its gradual decline in quality and interest.

With an over-saturation of playing talent and unappealing time zones across the board just some of the issues at the crux of Super Rugby’s downfall, those discussions have led to the aforementioned solutions for New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Two of the Jaguares’ leading players – Emiliano Boffelli and Julian Montoya – have subsequently been rumoured to depart the Buenos Aires franchise to join clubs in Europe.