 A
Brief History
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The
Participants
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| Rules
and Fixture
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¿Why
Colonia del Sacramento? |
A Brief History
In 1996, in order to fill an empty space in reference to international competence between the clubs of the southamerican countries, and as a reaffirmation of a new regional reality towards an integration that began in the economic field and could be traslated to sports, the first "Torneo de Rugby de las Américas" (that is, Rugby Tournament of the Americas) was organised in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
The participants of this tournament where the rugby clubs that came out champions and vice champions of the four southamerican countries were the game of rugby has reached it´s higher development; Argentine, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In that occasion, the champion of the Americas was the team of Club Atlético San Isidro (CASI) from Argentine, after defeating Carrasco Polo (Uruguayan champion) in the final game.
For the second edition of this tournament in 1997, we thought of widening the reach and importance of the tournament, including the champion clubs of the whole of the Southern Hemisphere, the region of our planet that counts with rugby clubs of the highest level, recognized all around the world.
It is in this way that we get to the 1997 Southern Hemisphere Champion Clubs´ Tournament, to be disputed once again in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
TopThe Participants
This year from Argentine three clubs will participate; the actual champion of America 1996, the Club Atlético San Isidro, one of the clubs with more tradition and history in rugby of that country.
Together with CASI, come the multichampions of 1996, the Hindú Club, National champion and champion of the URBA tournament, and also the national vice champion of 1996, Asociación Alumni.
For Uruguay (host country), the two champions of the 1996 season will participate, the Carrasco Polo Club (Uruguayan Champion), and the Old Boys Club (Champion of the Apertura tournament 1996), together with the vice champion of the Apertura tournament 1996, Old Christians Club. Three clubs of vast precedents in Uruguayan rugby.
The continental rugby will be prestiged by the presence of the 1995-96 National Champion from Chile, the Universidad Católica, and the Paraguayan 1996 Champion, the San José Rugby Club.
Together with this eight representatives of southamerican rugby, two great clubs, loyal ambassadors of two of the greatest powers in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia and South Africa, will participate;
From Australia comes the Randwick District Rugby Club, the 1996 Champion, the "Galloping Green", one of the most important and prestigious clubs in the world, from were big names have surged, such as the Ella brothers, David Campese, Tony Daly, Phil Kearns, George Gregan, David Knox and many others.
From Southafrica, the land of the Springboks, comes the also 1996 Champion, the Crusaders R.C., from the province of Natal, champion of the Currie Cup 1996.
In this way, a very high level of competence is assured in this tournament
that will surely figure between the most important in the world at clubs
level.
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Rules and fixture
There is emotion assured in all the matches, for all the tournament will be by direct elimination, with overtime and sudden death; this means there will always be a winner. Whoever wins will continue on the road, and the loser will be eliminated.
[Table with the fixture]
First round: Wednesday, March 5 1997.
The first round promises from day one great emotion, for it will mark the confrontations between the four national champions 1996 of Argentine, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
As from 19:30 (7:30 PM), San José Rugby Club (Paraguay) will face Carrasco Polo Club (Uruguay), and the second match will be between Hindú Rugby Club (Argentine) and Universidad Católica (Chile).
Second round: Saturday, March 8 1997.
The first match, at 16:00 (4 PM), will confront Crusaders R.C. (Southafrica) with Old Christians Club (Uruguay), and at second hour, as from 17:30 (5:30 PM) the two winners of the first round will determine who is the best of the four champions of 1996.
Third round: Sunday, March 9 1997.
The first match, to be played at 16:00 (4 PM) will have as participants the Club Atlético San Isidro and Asociación Alumni, both from Argentine. The second match will be between the Randwick R.C. (Australia) and the Old Boys Club (Uruguay).
Fourth round: Wednesday, March 12 1997.
As from 19:30 (7:30 PM) the winners of the second round, played the Saturday 8th.of March will play between them, and at second hour the winners of the third round, played the Sunday 9th.of March will do the same.
Fifth and final round: Saturday, March 15 1997.
The losers of the fourth round will face each other as from 16:00 (4 PM), fighting for the third position, and at 17:30 (5:30 PM) the winners of that round will determine who is the new Champion of the Southern Hemisphere.
| FIRST ROUND 5th. March |
San José R.C. vs Carrasco Polo Club Hindú R.C. vs Universidad Católica |
| SECOND ROUND 8th. March |
Crusaders R.C. vs Old Christians Club |
| THIRD ROUND 9th. March |
CASI vs Alumni |
| FOURTH ROUND 12th. March |
(Winners of the second round) |
| FINAL ROUND 15th. March |
(Losers of the fourth round) |
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¿Why Colonia del Sacramento?
In 1907 two intrepid young argentinians, Jorge Newbery and
Tomás de Anchorena, crossed the Río de la Plata in the legendary
air ballooon "Pampero" and arrived to the costs of Colonia, were
Anchorena acquired 11,000 hect. that he later donated to the Uruguayan
government for residence of the presidents.
This residence includes a huge park, recognized worldwide, were you can
find more than 150 different species of exotic animals.
Colonia del Sacramento, founded in 1680 by the Portuguese Governor Manuel
Lobo and baptised as "Nova Colonia del Sabtísimo Sacramento",
was a first hand witness of the american history. Sited, destroyed, conquered
and reconquered various times, Colonia was a protagonist in the history
of colonisation.
It´s famous "Barrio Histórico", the narrow streets,
the bullring "Real de San Carlos" (unique in South America),
and the infinity of places were you can admire the most varied kinds of
vegetation (Charles Darwin stopped by in 1833), together with the excellent
people, make Colonia a very hospitable and nice place.
Last year, Colonia was declared by the UNESCO "Cultural Heritage
of Humanity", for, in the words of the UNESCO´s director, Federico
Mayor Zaragoza, "..it has the exceptional values that are necessary
for this recognition." The same recognition that have achieved, amongst
others, the pyramids of Egypt or the Parthenon of Athens.
At a short distance from Buenos Aires and Montevideo, strategically situated
in the Río de la Plata, Colonia del Sacramento has everything to
welcome the rugbiers of the Southern Hemisphere, who as Newbery and Anchorena
will fly to her coasts on March of this year.
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