​An inspired Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in defeating England and helping Argentina advance to back-to-back World Cup finals. The Pumas, who host England this week, have also shown consistency at Rugby World Cups, reaching three semi-finals across the last five tournaments. Head coach Felipe Contepomi, who featured for Argentina in the 2007 World Cup when the team reached the semi-finals for the first time, remembers that campaign as one of the turning points, a run that included victories over France, Ireland and Scotland. That success, followed by further semi-final appearances in 2015 and 2023, helped to lift rugby’s profile in a country long defined by football and Messi fever.
“Amateur rugby here in Argentina is booming,” Contepomi told BBC Sport. “It’s very much community-based rugby, and the clubs are growing. We’re seeing more and more people every year.” He added that rugby cannot be compared with football in terms of cultural reach: “I always say rugby is a sport, football is a religion for an Argentinian.” The dimensions are different. Even for him, rugby is his passion, but football remains etched in his skin.
Historically, most of Argentina’s internationals have come through private schools situated in the country’s rugby hotbeds. Buenos Aires, the birthplace of Contepomi and captain Julian Montoya, remains the country’s largest rugby hub, while Tucumán—near Saturday’s venue in Santiago del Estero—is the only place where, according to Contepomi, “rugby is bigger than football.” “The good thing is that rugby started in Argentina among the middle class and upper middle class, but now it’s played in every social class,” the former Leinster fly-half explained. “It is played in every corner of the country, not only in Buenos Aires but in every province.”
Argentina’s World Cup success is particularly notable given the absence of a professional domestic franchise. The Jaguares competed in Super Rugby from 2016 to 2020 before folding due to financial difficulties. Since 2019, however, the semi-professional Super Rugby Americas has provided a pathway for emerging talent. One recent success story is Leicester Tigers back-row Joaquin Moro, who joined from Pampas XV and started in last season’s Premiership semi-final in what was his debut campaign. “Super Rugby Americas is growing every year, and I think that’s a good pathway for developing professional habits and preparing players,” Contepomi said. He noted that in the last two years around 20 players have progressed from those franchises to represent the Pumas.
Contepomi helped knock Ireland out of the 2007 World Cup, while also playing his club rugby with Leinster. He has spoken often of the ideals that drive the team—excellence, consistency and resilience. He described Messi’s greatness as a motivating force for Argentina, emphasizing the value of consistency as the key attribute that sustains performance at the highest level. Argentina sits seventh in the world rankings and, despite an improved performance in their latest Nations Championship game, were outclassed by Scotland in their opening fixture, even though they had defeated Scotland in November. The team’s progress under Contepomi’s guidance continues to be built on the same pillars that have underpinned Argentina’s most memorable moments: talent, depth, and an enduring belief that rugby’s growth in the country can go hand in hand with the football fervor that defines Argentina on the world stage.