Sudamérica Rugby

Sudamérica Rugby
Formation	14 October 1988; 36 years ago
Founded at	Asunción, Paraguay
Type	Sport
Region	South and Central America
Membership	16 unions
President	Sebastián Piñeyrúa
Vice-President	Marcello Calandra
Affiliations	World Rugby
Website	sudamerica.rugby

Sudamérica Rugby (previously known as Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (abbreviated CONSUR) between 1988 and 2015),^[3]^[4] is the governing body for rugby union within South America and most of Central America. It was created on 14 October 1988 in Asunción on the initiative of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, counting with a total of 16 unions.

The confederation currently has nine full World Rugby member nations, with one associate member, and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within South America, especially the South American Rugby Championship.

History

Although there was a meeting of associations during the 1961 Championship, the body was officially established as "Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby" (South American Rugby Confederation) on October 14, 1988, in the Yacht and Golf Club of Asunción, Paraguay. The act of foundation was signed by members of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The members also set up the Copa Libertadores de Rugby, contested by the national champions of each association, to be held in Punta del Este. According with the act, the Confederation was created with the aim of promoting the spreading and development of amateur rugby within South America, and organising rugby competitions in the region.^[1]

Following a suggestion made by World Rugby, the Confederation changed its name to "Sudamérica Rugby" in 2015.^[3]

In 2019, Sudamérica Rugby announced the creation of "Superliga Americana", the first professional competition in the region. To begin in February 2020, the tournament will be contested by five clubs of five countries, playing in a double round-robin basis. At the end of the regular phase, the four best placed teams will qualify to play the semi-finals, while team placed 5th. will play two matches versus the Colombian representative, which added in 2021.^[5]

Franchised team Ceibos, based in Córdoba and made up of players from Argentina XV and Jaguares, will represent Argentina at the competition. Former Puma Ignacio Fernández Lobbe was appointed as coach of Los Ceibos.^[6] The other teams taking part in the tournament will be Corinthians (Brazil), Selknam (Chile), Cafeteros Pro (Colombia), Olimpia Lions (Paraguay), and Peñarol (Uruguay).^[7]

Member unions

Argentina
Brazil
Bolivia ^[1]
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador ^[1]
El Salvador ^[1]
Guatemala
Honduras ^[1]
Nicaragua ^[1]
Panama ^[1]
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

Notes

^[1] Not affiliated with World Rugby

Competitions

Tournament	Class	Categories
South American Championship	National teams	Senior (A, B, C)
Americas Rugby Trophy	National teams	Women's
South American Junior Championship	National teams	Youth (U-20, U18)
South America Sevens	National teams	Senior, U-20, U-18
South America Women's Sevens	National teams	Women's, Women's U-18
Súper Liga Americana de Rugby	Club teams	Senior

National teams rankings

Men's World Rugby Rankings (as of 2 January 2023)^[8]
South America*	World Rugby	National Team	Points
1	8	Argentina	80.72
2	17	Uruguay	66.24
3	22	Chile	60.89
4	27	Brazil	55.23
5	37	Colombia	48.69
6	39	Paraguay	48.14
7	72	Peru	36.35
8	76	Venezuela	35.87
9	97	Costa Rica	29.36
*Local rankings based on World Rugby ranking points

Women's World Rugby Rankings (as of 2 January 2023)^[9]
South America*	World Rugby	National Team	Points
1	26	Colombia	45.18
2	47	Brazil	36.38
*Local rankings based on World Rugby ranking points

World Cup qualifying

Sudamérica Rugby nations participate in qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup every four years. Three Sudamérica Rugby nations –Argentina, Uruguay and Chile – have qualified to play in Rugby World Cups.

Edition	Automatically qualified	Qualified via competition	Qualified via repechage	Eliminated in repechage	Eliminated at final stage	Eliminated at second stage	Eliminated at first stage
1987	Argentina	–	–	–	–	–	–
1991	–	Argentina	–	–	–	–	–
1995	–	Argentina	–	–	Uruguay Paraguay Chile	–	–
1999	–	Argentina	Uruguay	–	Chile Paraguay	–	Brazil
2003	Argentina	Uruguay	–	–	Chile	Paraguay Brazil	Venezuela Peru Colombia
2007	–	Argentina	–	Uruguay	Chile	Paraguay Brazil	Venezuela Peru Colombia
2011	Argentina	–	–	Uruguay	Chile Brazil		Paraguay Venezuela Peru Colombia
2015	Argentina	–	Uruguay	–	Chile Brazil	Paraguay	Colombia Venezuela Peru
2019	Argentina	Uruguay	–	–	Chile Brazil Paraguay	Colombia	Guatemala Peru Venezuela Ecuador
2023	Argentina	Uruguay Chile	–	–	Brazil Paraguay		Colombia
2027	Argentina	–	–	–	–