Rugby union in Paraguay is a secondary sport. With 4,355 registered players and twenty clubs, the country currently ranks 37th worldwide and 4th in South America.[2]
The Paraguayan Rugby Union (Union de Rugby del Paraguay) was founded in 1970, and joined the IRB in 1989.[3]
History
The first recorded game of rugby in the country was in the 1930s, between players from Cerro Porteño and Olimpia (the country's two biggest football clubs). Further development of the game was sporadic.
Asuncion Rugby Club, the country's first official rugby club, was formed in the late 1960s by two Britons, two Argentines, a Dutchman, and a New Zealander.[4] They played informal games in the Jardin Botanico (Botanic Gardens of Asuncion) and travelled to Argentina for games.
In 1970 a second club was set up in Asuncion, the Club Universitario de Asunción (CURDA). Further clubs were established in the 1970s and 1980s.
The sport's governing body, the Paraguayan Rugby Union (Union de Rugby del Paraguay), was founded in 1970 and joined the IRFB in 1989.[3]
The traditional stronghold of Paraguayan rugby has been the capital, Asuncion, where the majority of clubs have been based. However Since 2000 a number of Asuncion clubs have folded, combined, or struggled to field teams in both Primera (First Grade of the Paraguayan Rugby Union Championship) and Intermedia (reserve grade).
In 2013 the teams in Primera were all from Asuncion: CURDA, San Jose, Old King Club, Luque, Cristo Rey, Universidad Autonoma de Asuncion, and Santa Clara.
Las Leones de Encarnacion, from the south of the country, competed in Primera until 2009 when they switched to compete in the URNE championship of Northern Argentina. Encarnacion is a riverside city opposite the Argentine city of Posadas. Las Leones often fielded a strong team in Primera, but they are closer to the Posadas, Corrientes and Resistencia, than to Asuncion (a 5-hour bus trip). While strong at home they often struggled to field a competitive team when traveling to Asuncion every second week for Primera. They have since won the URNE championship.
Since 2010 there has been strong growth in both women's rugby and rugby outside of and in the outskirts of Asuncion. Traditionally teams such as Ciudad del Este and Coronel Oviedo played only occasionally, or fielded a team in Intermedia or Primera where they often struggled. In 2010 a separate "Campeonato del Interior" was established, in which developing clubs from the countryside played. Teams include Santani, Coronel Oviedo, Villarica, Ciudad del Este and Presidente Franco.
All Primera teams are now obliged to field a women's team. The women play 7-a-side rugby with mini 7 a side championships held every couple of weeks.
From 2013 a separate Campeonato Metropolitano (Metropolitan Championship) was also established, for new developing teams from Asuncion which could not yet compete in Primera. Teams include San Lorenzo, Capiata, Asuncion, and Sajonia.
Divisions
Traditionally Paraguayan rugby clubs have fielded teams in Primera and/or Intermedia. In recent years a Campeonato del Interior (Countryside Club Championship) and Campeonato Metropolitano (Metropolitan Championship) have been formed for developing clubs and clubs in rural areas.
Primera Teams also usually field Under 18, Under 16, Under 14 and Junior teams, and, as of recently, women's rugby teams.
Paraguayan Rugby Clubs
Primera Division 2022 (First Division)
Name
Nickname
Nickname in English
Location
CURDA
Los Buhos
The Owls
Asunción
Luque
Chanchitos
The Pigs
Luque
Santa Clara
Rinocerontes
Rhinoceros
Asunción
Cristo Rey
Ñandus
Rhea Birds
Asunción
San Jose
Bulldogs
Bulldogs
Asunción
Intermedia 2022 (2nd Division)
Name
Nickname
Nickname in English
Location
Asunción RC
El Decano
The Dean
Asunción
CURDA (Reserves)
Los Buhos
The Owls
Asunción
Jabalíes
Jabalíes
Boars
Luque
Luque (Reserves)
Chanchitos
The Pigs
Luque
Santa Clara (Reserves)
Rinocerontes
Rhinoceros
Asunción
Cristo Rey (Reserves)
Ñandus
Rhea Birds
Asunción
Old King Club
Viejos Reyes
Old Kings
Asunción
San Jose (Reserves)
Bulldogs
Bulldogs
Asunción
Campeonato del Interior (Countryside Championship)
Name
Location
CRACO
Coronel Oviedo
Presidente Franco
Presidente Franco
Santani Rugby Club
Santani
Area 1 Rugby Club
Ciudad del Este
Hernandarias Rugby Club
Hernandarias
Taguató
Villarica
Area 1 Rugby Club
Ciudad del Este
San Juan
San Juan Nepomuceno
Saguaa Rugby Club
Ciudad de Caaguazú
San Roque
San Roque
Campeonato Metropolitano (Metropolitan Championship)
Name
Universidad Autonoma
San Lorenzo
Capiata
Sajonia
Villeta
Encarnación Rugby Club "Las Leones de Encarnación" compete in the URNE rugby Championship which is part of the Argentine Rugby Union.
There are several former clubs which no longer exist, such as Los Cuervos, Jabalí and Yakaré.
Senior Paraguayan Rugby Championship
Year
Champions
Second place
2021
CURDA
San José
2020
not played
2019
CURDA
San José
2018
CURDA
Luque
2017
CURDA
Luque
2016
CURDA
Luque
2015
Luque
CURDA
2014
Luque
Santa Clara
2013
CURDA
Santa Clara
2012
CURDA
Luque
2011
Luque
Santa Clara
2010
Cristo Rey
Luque
2009
CURDA
Luque
2008
CURDA
Yacht
2007
CURDA
Santa Clara
2006
CURDA
Yacht
2005
CURDA
San José
2004
CURDA (Yellow)
CURDA (Black)
2003
San José
CURDA
2002
San José
Santa Clara
2001
San José
Santa Clara
2000
CURDA
San José
1999
CURDA
Encarnacion RC
1998
San José
1997
Old King
1996
San José
1995
CURDA
San José
1994
CURDA
San José
1993
San José
1992
San José
1991
San José
1990
San José
1989
San José
1988
San José
1987
San José
1986
CURDA
1985
CURDA
1984
CURDA
1983
CURDA
1982
CURDA
1981
CURDA
1980
CURDA
1979
CURDA
1978
CURDA
1977
CURDA
1976
CURDA
1975
CURDA
1974
CURDA
1973
CURDA
1972
CURDA
1971
CURDA
Asunción
1970
Asunción
CURDA
Women's rugby
As mentioned above, women's rugby in Paraguay involves the teams from Primera fielding Seven-a-side teams. To play in Primera teams are obliged to field a women's team, which has spurred on the development of the sport for women.
The teams involved are CURDA, San Jose, Cristo Rey, Santa Clara, Universidad Autonoma de Asuncion, Old King Club, and Luque.
Old King Club has dominated women's rugby in Paraguay, winning every women's championship and providing the bulk of the Paraguayan Women's Seven-a-side team. Both Old King Club and the National Women's Team are coached by Victor Velilla.
Although Paraguay's women have not yet played a full 15 a sive test match, they have been playing international sevens rugby since 2004. In 2013 they came 8th and last in the CONSUR South American Women's Sevens Championship.
Paraguayans Playing Abroad
Several Paraguayans have played overseas.
In France, Cesar Meilike, Jatar Fernandez, Fabio Franco and Emiliano Arnau played for Strasbourg, and José Otaño and Joel Orihuela for US CENAC, at Fédérale 2, and Freddy Lares and Miguel Jara for Houilles Carrilies at Fédérale 3.
In Germany several Paraguayans have played in Bundesliga 1 including Juan Caba Cabañas, Fabio Franco, Willians Portillo and Oscar Merino.
In Spain Willians Portillo (Madrid), Javier Morinigo (San Cugat – Barcelona, ex-Albertong de Sudafrica), Igor Huerta (Universidad de Málaga), Jorge Ocampo (CEU Rugby Barcelona) and Emiliano Arnau (Rugby Lavila) have played.
Diego Sotelo and Gonzalo Sanches played College Rugby Division 1 in the United States.
Alex Sharman is an Australian-born naturalized Paraguayan who played for Paraguay and the University of Sydney (NSW, Australia), Falkirk (Scotland), Hinckley and Clifton Rugby Clubs (England), St. Louis Ramblers (USA) and Rugby La Vila (Spain).
For several reasons these overseas players often aren't available to play for Paraguay, but in 2009 Joel Orihuela and Juan Cabanas returned to South America for the South American Championships in Montevideo, and in 2010 Jose Otano, Diego Sotelo played for Paraguay in the South American Championship in Santiago de Chile.
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References
Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN1-86200-013-1)
Thau, Chris The South American Scene in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '89 (Lennard Books, 1988 ISBN1-85291-038-0)
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