Due to its busy agenda, July will be an unprecedented month for rugby in the region

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July will be an unprecedented month for South American rugby. The busy international agenda will, once again, put the region’s sport on the world map. There will be 12 international matches of the highest level played by the five main teams in the region. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay for South America Rugby, France, Scotland and Belgium from Europe and Asia’s Hong Kong China, will star in a busy agenda over six days corresponding to the July window, the first international of the season 2024.

With important World Rugby ranking points at stake and the possibility of competing at a higher level, this unprecedented window puts South America in a privileged place when it comes to hosting international rivals.

“Being able to announce a calendar of international matches like the one presented today speaks to the growth of South America,” said Daniel Hourcade, World Rugby High Performance Advisor for the region.

“Accustomed to receiving the best teams in the world only in Argentina, the fact that teams such as Scotland and France choose to extend their tours with other stops shows that both Chile and Uruguay are competitive options for them,” he added and assured that “with the classification to Rugby World Cup 2027 approaching, also offering Brazil and Paraguay international competition is very important.”

July international window

International activity will begin in Argentina and Chile on Saturday, July 6. The Pumas, seventh in the world ranking, will host France, a match that will be played at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza. On the other side of the Andes Mountains, Los Cóndores (23), who will play three games in the window, will be tested after their first Rugby World Cup last year facing Hong Kong China (24).

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The following weekend, the Asian team will begin its tour of three countries and three test matches in the region.

After playing against Los Cóndores, they will travel to Asunción to face Paraguay (38) on July 13 and will end their tour in Brazil where Os Tupis (29) will seek to reduce their ranking against a direct rival on July 20.

Belgium (28) returns to the region 36 years after its first visit. That time, he played five games in Argentina and a test-match in Montevideo. The Europeans did not win any of their matches and lost against Los Teros 39-13, with the blue team scoring seven tries.

On this occasion, the Black Devils’ trip will begin on Saturday the 13th against Chile and then follow the same path as the Asians, eventually playing in the following two weekends. Against Paraguay at the Héroes de Curupayty, Asunción, venue of the three Yacares matches, and in Brazil against the national team.

Brazil, as a visitor in Brussels, defeated the Belgians in the only confrontation between both countries, in 2017. The result: 23-19.

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Chile will complete its international window with its historic first test-match against Scotland (6). The National Stadium will be the home of Los Cóndores, who in 2022 hosted the Scottish national team in a match that did not count towards the World Rugby ranking and that Scotland A won 45-5. Weeks later, Chile qualified for its first World Cup.

France will play two tests against Argentina, and between both, matches will cross the Río de la Plata to face Uruguay in Montevideo. Although this match to be played on Wednesday, June 10, will not be a test-match, it is clear in the memories of the French, Uruguayans and rugby fans around the world what the debut of Los Teros was at RWC 2024 against the host and the difficulties they had to finally win 27-12.

It will not be the first time that the French play in Uruguay. His previous visit was 64 years ago, ending his tour of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay with a 59-0 victory in Montevideo.

Another historic match will be the one between Los Teros and Los Pumas playing on July 20. Although both teams have faced each other previously, it will be a new opportunity for the Uruguayan team to test itself against an elite team.

Scotland will play for the first time in Montevideo, finishing their continental trip against Uruguay after stops in the United States, Canada and Chile. The only previous history between the two teams was at RWC 1999, when, at Murrayfield, the host won 43-12.

The 12 matches of the international window

6th of July. The Pumas vs France, at the Falklands Argentina Stadium, Mendoza6 July. Chile vs Hong Kong China10 July. Uruguay vs France, at the Charrúa Stadium13 July. The Pumas vs France, at the José Amalfitani Stadium (Vélez Sarsfield)July 13, Paraguay vs Hong Kong China, at the Heroes Stadium in Curupayty, AsunciónJuly 13, Chile vs BelgiumJuly 20, Uruguay vs The Pumas, at the Domingo Stadium Burgueño Miguel (Maldonado Campus), MaldonadoJuly 20, Chile vs Scotland, at the National Stadium, SantiagoJuly 20, Brazil vs Hong Kong ChinaJuly 20, Paraguay vs Belgium, at the Curupayty Heroes StadiumJuly 27, Uruguay vs Scotland, at the Charrúa Stadium27 July, Brazil vs Belgium

Venues that are not listed will be confirmed in due course by the host countries.