Rugby union in Bolivia
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Bolivia
is a minor, but growing sport.
.
is dominated by Argentina
, and to a lesser extent Uruguay
(who have qualified for the Rugby World Cup
) and Chile
and is most popular in the southern part of the continent. However, rugby can be found in almost all the South American nations, partly because of massive immigration from Europe
, notably the British Isles, France and Italy. Rugby was also introduced to some regions of the continent by the Irish Marist Brothers
and their schools.
However, Bolivian rugby was not really established from these waves of European immigration in the 19th and early 20th century, but during the late 20th century. The impetus came partly through large numbers of foreign nationals working for various countries, but most especially people from Argentina. It has been claimed for example that British workers connected with the mines were playing in the mid 20th century.
The confirmed roots of Bolivian rugby go back to the 1960s, when José Pipo Viale, from Córdoba, Argentina
introduced the game to Cochabamba
. As in Paraguay, the French have been instrumental in expanding the game. French diplomats from the Embassy, and the
Colegio Franco Boliviano produced a team which managed to tour Chile, and played an informal match against a French Guiana
side touring South America.
Traditionally rugby is most popular in La Paz
, the capital, but it is also fairly successful in the Santa Cruz
region, and is played by some university sides. There are also clubs in Cochabamba
and Tarija
.
The interest in Santa Cruz was partially the result of a community of Argentine expatriates, who formed a club with the locals. The first Santa Cruz team was Jenecheru.
The first Bolivian Club Championship was in 2006.
Touring sides occasionally visit from neighbouring countries.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
is a minor, but growing sport.
Governing body
The governing body is the Federación Boliviana de Rugby, which is affiliated to CONSUR, but not to the International Rugby BoardInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
.
History
Rugby in South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
is dominated by Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and to a lesser extent Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
(who have qualified for the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
) and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and is most popular in the southern part of the continent. However, rugby can be found in almost all the South American nations, partly because of massive immigration from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, notably the British Isles, France and Italy. Rugby was also introduced to some regions of the continent by the Irish Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
and their schools.
However, Bolivian rugby was not really established from these waves of European immigration in the 19th and early 20th century, but during the late 20th century. The impetus came partly through large numbers of foreign nationals working for various countries, but most especially people from Argentina. It has been claimed for example that British workers connected with the mines were playing in the mid 20th century.
The confirmed roots of Bolivian rugby go back to the 1960s, when José Pipo Viale, from Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
introduced the game to Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...
. As in Paraguay, the French have been instrumental in expanding the game. French diplomats from the Embassy, and the
Colegio Franco Boliviano produced a team which managed to tour Chile, and played an informal match against a French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
side touring South America.
Traditionally rugby is most popular in La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, the capital, but it is also fairly successful in the Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
region, and is played by some university sides. There are also clubs in Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...
and Tarija
Tarija, Bolivia
Tarija or San Bernardo de la Frontera de Tarixa is a city in southern Bolivia. Founded in 1574, Tarija is both the capital and largest city within the Tarija Department, with an airport offering regular service to primary Bolivian cities, as well as a regional bus terminal with domestic and...
.
The interest in Santa Cruz was partially the result of a community of Argentine expatriates, who formed a club with the locals. The first Santa Cruz team was Jenecheru.
The first Bolivian Club Championship was in 2006.
Touring sides occasionally visit from neighbouring countries.
Teams of 2010 Bolivian Championship
- Jenecherú
- Santa Cruz
- Universitário de Cochabamba
- La Paz
- Tarija
- Brangus
- Supay Rugby Club