Argentina is best known for their artistic football and football great Maradona. However, the country has a long tradition of rugby. Argentina played their first rugby match in 1910 against a touring British team. Though they have participated in all five world cup tournaments, they could not yet set themselves as one of the strongest contenders of the tournament. In Rugby world cup, their best ever result was in 1999 Rugby world cup as they qualified for the quarter final in that tournament.
Now, ahead of Rugby world cup 2007, Argentina has declared their 30 member squad giving much importance over the veteran members of Argentina. Coach Marcelo Loffreda has recently declared the squad. Experienced scrum half Agustín Pichot has given the captaincy and the coming world cup will be his fourth world cup. 2007 Rugby world cup will be third tournament for 9 players of the squad. Twin twins Felipe and Manuel Contepomi are two of these nine veterans of the squad. For six players, Rugby world cup 2007 will be second world cup tournament.
Four years ago, in 2003 Rugby world cup, Argentina failed to make their second consecutive quarter final through a narrow defeat of 15-16 to Ireland. Argentina can take a revenge of that defeat as they will meet Ireland on 30 September in the last Pool D match. In Pool D, Argentina will play against France, Georgia, Ireland and Namibia.
The advantage of Argentine squad in the coming Rugby world cup 2007 is their experience of playing in major European leagues. Half of the members of the squad play for different French clubs. So, they will have better chance to adjust with the environment in France.
Here are the names of the players of Argentina squad below:
Forwards (17): Patricio Albacete, Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, Marcos Iván Ayerza, Martín Alberto Durand, Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino, Omar Hasan, Mario Ezequiel Ledesma Arocena, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Gonzalo Matías Longo Elia, Esteban Lozada, Lucas Ostiglia, Rodrigo Roncero, Martín Scelzo, Martín Schusterman, Alberto Vernet Basualdo.
Backs (13): Agustín Pichot (Captain), Felipe Contepomi, Manuel Contepomi, Ignacio Corleto, Nicolás Fernández Miranda, Martín Gaitan, Juan Martín Hernández, Horacio Agulla, Lucas Borges, José María Núñez Piossek, Federico Serra Miras, Gonzalo Pedro Tiesi, Federico Todeschini.
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