Club Universitario de Buenos Aires

Last updated
Universitario (CUBA)
Universitario BA logo.svg
Full nameClub Universitario de Buenos Aires
Union URBA
Nickname(s)CUBA
Founded11 May 1918;105 years ago (1918-05-11)
Location Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ground(s) Villa de Mayo, Greater Buenos Aires
ChairmanMarcelo Perri [1]
Coach(es)Juan José Villar
Tomás Cóppola
League(s) Top 12
201810°
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body blackquarters23.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
1st kit
Kit left arm blackborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body chelsea away.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm blackborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
2nd kit
Official website
www.cuba.org.ar


Club Universitario de Buenos Aires, commonly known for its acronym CUBA, is an Argentine sports club located in Buenos Aires. Universitario hosts a large variety of sports and activities, including aikido, mountaineering, basketball, boxing, scuba diving, fencing, skiing, football, gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, golf, field hockey, judo, swimming, yachting, paddle tennis, basque pelota, rugby union, squash, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, windsurf and yoga. [2]

Contents

The club is known for its rugby teams, the senior team of which currently plays in URBA Top 12, the first division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system. CUBA has won 14 first division titles to date.

History

The Club was founded on 11 May 1918, by a group of university students as a means of fostering camaraderie in a politics-free environment. The founders had been members of the Young Men's Christian Association who, in 1917, were sanctioned by the Association's board of directors for participating in a basketball game that ended in a fight. [3] Membership was initially restricted to university students. The first president of the institution was Dr. Carlos P.Waldorp. [4]

On 31 October 1918, the club acquired a house on Viamonte street of Buenos Aires, which became the headquarters of Universitario. From 1933 to 1948 the club hosted its activities at the club Obras Sanitarias. [4] In 1948, Universitario acquired land in the Villa de Mayo district of Greater Buenos Aires, which it uses to host some outdoor activities.

Rugby

Universitario rugby team of 1924. Universitarioarg1924.JPG
Universitario rugby team of 1924.

It is believed that rugby was first played at the club because of the friendship between members of Club Atlético San Isidro and the founders of Universitario. The first rugby captain was Oscar Mena, who had previously played in San Isidro. Mena served as a coach of junior divisions in addition to playing on the senior team. [4]

Universitario first registered its rugby team with Unión del Rugby del Río de la Plata (today Argentine Rugby Union) in 1919. Initially the team only played friendly matches, debuting against Lomas with a victory of 16–3. Universitario also played games against San Isidro and Belgrano AC.

Universitario began to play in official competitions in 1922, starting in the second division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires. The first official game was on 15 May 1921, with Universitario defeating Huemac by 11–0. Universitario won every game in its opening season, leading to a championship win as well. This promoted Universitario to the top division of Argentine rugby. Only two players of that initial team had experience playing rugby, Julio Dellepiane Rawson and Rodolfo de Surra, who had played in San Isidro and Eastbourne College of England respectively. [4] [5]

First championship

The 1931 team that won the URBA championship. Universitario BA rugby 1931.jpg
The 1931 team that won the URBA championship.

Universitario won its first title in the first division in 1931. During the season, Universitario scored 213 points (43 tries), receiving 77. The team won 14 of 16 games, with a loss to the standing champions San Isidro by 25–0 with 7 tries conceded, and 1 game drew against Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires).

The catastrophic defeat to San Isidro (CASI) created great concern inside the club. To change the attitude of the players, Paco Torino, leader of club's sports committee, wrote a letter to each one of them with these words: "If you really don't want that CUBA be defeated like that again, you should better go to the practice and gymnastics class at the club."

Hugo Mackern, Argentine journalist specialized in rugby

Universitario recovered from their defeat by San Isidro, winning all games in the second round, including a victory against San Isidro by 12–6. [4]

At the international level, Universitario played several matches against teams outside Argentina. These teams included the Junior Springboks in 1932 and 1959, an Oxford & Cambridge combined team in 1948, 1956 and 1965, the Ireland national side in 1952, and the "Gazelles" from South Africa in 1966. in 1965, Universitario won the title in all divisions (first to fifth, including reserve teams).

Return to glory

Universitario would not win another title until 2013, 43 years after its last title. In 2006 and 2007 the team reached the semi-finals, but in 2010 and 2011 the team was nearly demoted to a lower division. In 2011, to remain in the top division, Universitario had to play a match against Lomas. [6]

In 2013 Universitario won its 14th championship, defeating Hindú by 11–9 in San Isidro. [7] That same year Universitario became the national champion when winning the Nacional de Clubes after defeating Rosarian team Duendes by 21–20 at a final match played in Villa de Mayo. [8] [9] [10]

Notable rugby union players

[17]

Notable members

Locations

Frank Chevallier Boutell, captain of the rugby union team, in 1926. Frankboutel 1926.jpeg
Frank Chevallier Boutell, captain of the rugby union team, in 1926.

At present, the club has several branches across Argentina:

Uniforms

Kit left arm.svg
Kit body blacksquares.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops black.png
Kit socks long.svg
Rugby 1920s–30
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body blackquarters23.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Rugby 1930-today

Controversy

Universitario is a Gentlemen's club, with women being considered adherent members. [27] As adherents, women are excluded from decision-making processes, and their access to the main headquarters is restricted to only the restaurant and the library. The sports and activities are exclusively available to men. The statute of Universitario (written in 1921) does not mention that women are not allowed in the club, [18] however the club leadership interprets that the word "member" does not apply to women, limiting them to the adherent role. [18]

If a member dies, their adherents (wives and daughters) can only can access to the club with special permission from the governing committee. If a member gets a divorce, their adherent (ex-wife) is banned from the club. [18]

The club has been accused of supporting several de facto governments of Argentina. [18] [28] In 1953, then President of Argentina Juan Domingo Perón took over the club. [18] [28] In the official history of the club it was stated that "The government of Gral. Pedro Aramburu repaired the abuse committed". [29] In 1968, some members of the committee celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club with members of the military government led by dictator Juan Carlos Onganía. [18]

In 2023, the visiting Terenue rugby team accused Universitario of "punching and gouging" during a match. Terenure were on a three-match tour in Argentina, but their opening game was called off after 25 minutes, with the Terenure leading 7-0.

Honours

Basketball

Rugby union

Notes

  1. Founder and director of Crítica, a famous newspaper of Argentina. [18]
  2. Chairman of Club Atlético River Plate (1989–97). [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentine Rugby Union</span> Governing body for rugby union in Argentina

The Argentine Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Argentina. It is a member of World Rugby, with a seat on that body's Executive Council, and a founding member of Sudamérica Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Isidro Club</span> Argentine rugby union team, based in San Isidro

San Isidro Club is an Argentine sports club based in the Boulogne Sur Mer district of Greater Buenos Aires. The club has gained recognition due to its rugby union team, being one of the most successful clubs of Argentina with 26 Torneo de la URBA championships won. SIC has also won 4 Nacional de Clubes tournaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club Atlético San Isidro</span> Argentine rugby union team, based in San Isidro

The Club Atlético de San Isidro is an Argentine sports club based in the city of San Isidro in Greater Buenos Aires. Originally established as a football club, San Isidro has gained recognition for its rugby union team, holding a record of 33 Torneo de la URBA championships. The senior squad currently competes at Top 12, the top division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires</span>

The Buenos Aires Rugby Union, usually referred as URBA, is the Argentine governing body that organises and controls the rugby union in the Buenos Aires Province. The remaining clubs from the province are distributed amongst four other unions: Unión de Rugby del Oeste de Buenos Aires in the west, Unión de Rugby del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires in the centre, Unión de Rugby de Mar del Plata in the east, and Unión de Rugby del Sur in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lomas Athletic Club</span> Rugby team

Lomas Athletic Club is an Argentine sports club from the Lomas de Zamora district of Greater Buenos Aires. One of Argentina's oldest clubs still in existence, Lomas is one of the four institutions that founded the "River Plate Rugby Championship" in 1899, The rugby union team currently plays in Primera A, the second division of the URBA league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires</span>

Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima is an Argentine multi-sports club placed in the city of Buenos Aires. The institution is one of the oldest in the country, having been established in 1880. Gimnasia y Esgrima is also one of the largest clubs of Argentina, with around 30 different disciplines hosted in the three buildings that the institution owns in Buenos Aires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unión de Rugby de Rosario</span>

The Rosario Rugby Union is the organisational body that controls the game of rugby union in Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The rest of Santa Fe province teams are organised under the Unión Santafesina de Rugby.

Club Atlético del Rosario is an Argentine sports club from Rosario, Santa Fe. One of the oldest clubs still in existence in the country, Atlético del Rosario was a pioneer of football in Rosario, being the first team from that city to play in Primera División, the top division of the Argentine football league system. At the international level, Rosario A.C. was also the first team outside Buenos Aires to win an international tournament, the Tie Cup on three occasions. Atlético was also a founding member of the Liga Rosarina de Football, the main body that organised the practice of association football in Rosario from 1905 to 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estadio G.E.B.A.</span>

The Estadio GEBA is a multi-use stadium in the Palermo neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Owned by Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, the stadium is located on the "Sede Jorge Newbery", one of the three facilities of the club. Its current capacity is 12,133 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgrano Athletic Club</span> Argentine sports club

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby Club</span> Sports club

Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby Club, sometimes known simply as Buenos Aires, is an Argentine sports club based in San Fernando, Buenos Aires. Having set its official date of foundation on 8 December 1864, the club claims to be the oldest club still in existence in Argentina, according to reports of a cricket match played by the club in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, in 1831.

Club de Regatas Bella Vista is an Argentine sports club headquartered in the Bella Vista district of San Miguel Partido. Founded in 1895 as a rowing club, Regatas later developed other sports activities, such as rugby union, field hockey, football and tennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unión de Rugby de Tucumán</span>

The Tucuman Rugby Union or URT is the organisational body that controls the game of rugby union in the province of Tucumán, Argentina.

The URBA Top 12 is an Argentine rugby union club competition organised by the Buenos Aires Rugby Union (URBA). It is the top division of the Argentine rugby league system. Created on 10 April 1899 by the "River Plate Rugby Union", the Top 13 is the oldest rugby competition in South America and one of the oldest club competitions in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marista Rugby Club</span> Rugby union and field hockey club in Mendoza, Argentina

Marista Rugby Club is an Argentine rugby union and field hockey club based in Luján de Cuyo, a city in Mendoza Province. The rugby union team is member of the Unión de Rugby de Cuyo and currently plays in Torneo del Oeste, a regional league.

Club Universitario de La Plata is an Argentine sports club headquartered in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. Universitario hosts the practise of a wide range of sports and activities that includes basketball, beach volleyball, bowls, fencing, field hockey, gymnastics, judo, paddle tennis, rugby union, roller skating, rowing, swimming, tejo, tennis, volleyball, water polo and yoga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centro Naval</span>

Centro Naval, is an Argentine sports and social club, established in 1882 by a group of Argentine Navy officers. The rugby union team currently plays in Primera C, the fourth division of the URBA league system. The club has also a women's rugby team competing in "Torneo Femenino", organised by the same body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club Atlético San Antonio de Padua</span> Rugby team

Club Atlético San Antonio de Padua, familiarly known as CASA de Padua, is an Argentine sports club located in the city of San Antonio de Padua, Buenos Aires Province. Although CASA is mostly known for its rugby union team, the club hosts the practise of other sports and activities such as basketball, field hockey, swimming, pilates and yoga.

The Campeonato Argentino de Clubes de Básquet was the top-tier level division professional basketball championship in Argentina, until 1984, when it was replaced by the Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge Stewart</span> Rugby player

Jorge Stewart was an Argentine rugby union footballer, president of San Isidro Club. and vice president of the Argentine Rugby Union.

References

  1. "Comisión Directiva 2013–14" on club website
  2. Sports at CUBA, retrieved 15 April 2017
  3. History of CUBA on club's website
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "El Club Universitario de Buenos Aires y el Rugby" by Eduardo García Saenz, rugbytime.com, 8 May 2014 (Archive)
  5. "CUBA, campeón después de 43 años", Clarín, 6 May 2014
  6. "CUBA, una historia de reconstrucción" at RugbyFun Archived 2014-05-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "", CanchaLlena.com, 26 Oct 2013
  8. "CUBA es el mejor del país: derrotó a Duendes en la final del Nacional del Clubes", CanchaLlena.com, 3 May 2014
  9. "CUBA luchó, ganó y gritó campeón" Archived 2014-07-06 at the Wayback Machine , 3 May 2014 – UAR website
  10. ""CUBA, campeón nacional" at RugbyFun, 3 May 2014". Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  11. El Gráfico N° 377 (Sep 1926)
  12. Rugby Didáctico 3: Historia y Estadísticas by Sebastián Perazzo. Published by Technibook Ediciones, 2011 – ISBN   978-9871759-774
  13. "La Unión de Rugby del Río de la Plata – Memoria 1932" Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine at UAR website
  14. "La vuelta al rugby de Ignacio Corleto en CUBA", Rugbytime.com, 26 May 2012
  15. "Entrevista a Ernesto Ure", Rugbytime.com, 26 Nov 2009
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "CUBA, campeón después de 43 años", Clarín, 26 Oct 2013
  17. Cain, Nick & Growden, Greg. "Chapter 21: Ten Peculiar Facts about Rugby" in Rugby Union for Dummies (2nd Edition), John Wiley and Sons; ISBN   978-0-470-03537-5, p. 293
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "CUBA, club aristocrático que no acepta las mujeres como socias" by Manuel Alfieri Archived 2014-05-05 at the Wayback Machine , Tiempo Argentino
  19. es:Lino Palacio
  20. "Sede Palermo", club's website
  21. 1 2 "Veinticinco años en la historia del Club Universitario de Buenos Aires, 1968–1993", by Eduardo Martiré, Buenos Aires
  22. "Sede Nuñez", club's website
  23. "Sede Villa de Mayo", club's website
  24. "Sede Cabaña El Arbolito", club website
  25. "Sede Catedral", club's website
  26. "Sede Fátima", club's website
  27. "CUBA campeón, la historia del club más conservador del rugby", La Voz, 26 Oct 2013
  28. 1 2 "El campeón CUBA no acepta mujeres y apoyó la dicatura", Diario Uno
  29. Historia del Club Universitario de Buenos Aires, 1918–1968, text cited from the chapter "Después de la tormenta" ("after the storm" in English language)