With just ten weeks until the opening round of the 2016 Super Rugby season, the new Argentina-based franchise has been given a name and logo.
The general manager of Argentine Rugby Union, Greg Peters, announced on Thursday that Argentina’s offering to the Super Rugby competition will be called the Jaguares.
@RugbyARG_ looks great they will be a very exciting team to watch it is great for rugby in Argentina rugby in general #rugbyunited
— Mary McMillan (@mazmcm) December 16, 2015
The Argentine franchise will be joined by Japan’s Sunwolves and South Africa’s Southern Kings to expand Super Rugby from 15 to 18 teams in 2016.
The Jaguares currently have 30 contracted players, all of which are home-grown, including popular Los Pumas players Nicolas Sanchez and Juan Martin Hernandez. That list will be expanded to 45 before the Jaguares opening round match against the Cheetahs on February 27.
Speaking at the announcement, President of the UAR Carlos Araujo said: “The day has finally come and we are very happy. The franchise – the Jaguares – and the tournament, of which many of us have dreamt so much and for so long, it has today, formally and officially, come true.
“It has also been the result of a strategic plan that has taken a long time to develop and kick off. Today, in the initiation of the Jaguares and on their presentation day, I can only find words of appreciation to refer to the Argentine Rugby, our amateur rugby – the foundation of everything – where we come from and for which we have worked so much.”
VIEW THE COMPLETE 2016 SUPER RUGBY FIXTURE
Open all references in tabs: [1 - 4]