Argentina national rugby league team

Last updated

Argentina
Argentina rugby league logo.png
Team information
NicknameJabalis (Wild boars)
Governing bodyArgentina Rugby League
RegionAmericas
Head coachPablo Aguilera – Emiliano Rodríguez
CaptainJuan Ignacio Cánepa
IRL ranking 35th
Team results
First international
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 4–40 Australian Police Flag of Australia (converted).svg
(Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2005)
Biggest win
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 36-6 Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg
(Los Ángeles, Chile; 17 November 2017)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 6–60 Australian Police Flag of Australia (converted).svg
(Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2005)
World Cup
Appearances0

The Argentina national rugby league team (formerly nicknamed the Penguins but now the Jabalis [1] ) represent Argentina in the sport of rugby league football.

Contents

History

Argentina first played rugby league in 2005 when the Australian Police Rugby League Association organised a tour to Buenos Aires. The Australian Police team played two games against Argentina. The first was a 40–4 win for the Australian Police, with a crowd of 87 people attending. The second game was a 60–6 win for the Australian Police with a crowd attendance of 71. [2]

The sport then remained dormant in the country for over 10 years before being revived in 2016 amidst a number of other South and Central American nations taking up the sport. Argentina saw its first domestic activity for a decade in November 2016 when it hosted the Primer Torneo Sudamericano de Rugby League, a slightly modified 9-a-side tournament in Miramar involving the national teams of Argentina and Chile, as well as a number of select sides from around the region which were bolstered by the Latin Heat organization. [3] The final of the event was between the Argentinian and Chilean national teams, with Argentina winning 16–0. [4]

In 2017, with great effort from the players and coaching staff, Argentina traveled to Chile by bus, to be in the inaugural Latinoamericano Championship. This was the first time that a Latin American championship was played with 13 players a side, three referees and full RLIF tournament rules. [5] This event gave Argentina their first chance to earn World Ranking points and debut in the International Rankings. Argentina's first match of the tournament was a 36–6 win over Colombia. This win earned a spot in the Final against Chile with Argentina losing 32–12 to a team sporting a number of heritage players from Australia. The Argentinian team for the tournament was wholly made up of players from development and social leagues and no heritage players.

2018 saw Argentina playing in the Confederação Brasileira de Rugby League Festival in São Paulo, beating Colombia 28–16 before losing to Brazil in the final by 22-20 despite leading 14–20 at one point. [6]

In March 2024, Argentina was granted Observer Member status by the International Rugby League. [7]

Current squad

Squad selected for 2018 South American Rugby League Cup; [8]

IRL Rankings

Official rankings as of July 2025
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 83
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 62
5Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 53
6Steady2.svgFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 51
7Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 43
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 29
9Increase2.svg 2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22
11Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 18
12Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18
13Steady2.svgFlag of Malta.svg  Malta 16
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 14
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13
16Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 11
17Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 10
18Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9
19Increase2.svg 5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8
20Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 8
21Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 8
22Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 7
23Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 7
24Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7
25Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 5
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5
27Increase2.svg 1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5
28Decrease2.svg 2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
29Steady2.svgFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4
31Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4
32Steady2.svgFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 3
33Steady2.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
34Increase2.svg 22Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3
35Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
36Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2
37Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
41Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1
42Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
43Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
45Decrease2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 0
46Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
47Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
49Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
50Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
51Increase2.svg 6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
52Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
53Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
55Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
57Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

See also

References

  1. "A guide to Primer Torneo Sudamericano de Rugby League". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  2. "2005 International Rugby League Results & Tables - Rugby League International Scores". rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  3. "Argentina to host inaugural South American Tri-Series – Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation". asiapacificrl.com. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  4. "Argentina win Primer Torneo Sudamericano de Rugby League – Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation". asiapacificrl.com. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  5. "Fixtures announced for Latin American Championship". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  6. "Brazil win inaugural South American Cups". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  7. "Argentina granted IRL Observer Member status". IRL. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. https://www.asiapacificrl.com/2018/11/22/argentina-announce-squad-for-south-american-cup/ Argentina squad South American Cup