Paul Tait

CO-FOUNDER / EDITOR / SOUTH AMERICA ... has been covering the sport since 2007. Former player, coach, and referee. Author on web and in print. Published original works in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Ele fala português / Él habla español.

Can Argentina Avoid a Pool of Death for RWC 2019?

Heading into the final round of the Six Nations Argentina remains ranked 9th in the world. With this coming weekend’s matches being the final games before the draw is made Los Pumas would appear to have their fate sealed. Can Argentina Avoid a Pool of Death for RWC 2019? The …

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I Urge Argentina To Relax Overseas Player Rule

I urge Argentina to relax the overseas player rule. The existing UAR policy blocks any player from playing for Los Pumas who does not play in Argentina. The only exceptions are when an individual has permission from the union to play abroad. The ruling was brought into being to attract …

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Ease Up on Italy – Progress is Apparent

Recent performances against Wales and Ireland saw the Italians coming off second best without meeting expectations. Yet the past provides insight into the present and also the future. There is reason to say ease up on Italy – progress is apparent. Failures A lot has been going wrong, this cannot …

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French Bid Places RWC 2023 as Biggest Ever

The host nation for Rugby World Cup 2023 will be determined this year. In the running are three unions – France, Ireland and South Africa. All have hosted in some capacity in the past. Should the French bid be successful it would make 2023 the biggest ever Rugby World Cup. …

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World Rugby Deserve Questioning Over Anglo Monopolized Refereeing

World Rugby deserve questioning over Anglo monopolized refereeing. In response to the past weekend’s Six Nations fixtures social media was alive with people opposed to monolingual officiating. Played on Saturday and Sunday, the opening round of the 2017 Six Nations Championship featured referees from the Top 14, Super Rugby and Aviva …

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Belief Remains that Foreign-Based Pumas will Be Selected

Belief remains that foreign-based Pumas will be selected. It is this rationale which has been put forward from Facundo Isa to account for his imminent departure from Argentina to continue his professional career in France. The star No 8 told Argentina’s test manager that “he had given his word to a …

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Argentina Mourns the Loss of Puma Bernardo Miguens

Argentina rugby mourns the loss of Bernardo Miguens. The former CUBA and Puma fullback suffered an accident while on vacation in Pinamar and was unable to respond to treatment. He passed away while being transported to Buenos Aires. He was 58. The fourth child of a rugby family, his brothers …

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Scottish Union and Head Coach Clash over Player Eligibility Laws

The Scottish Rugby Union and Head Coach have clashed over Player Eligibility Laws. With Scotland being one of the world’s predominant benefactors of the three-year residency rule the words of the national coach are all the more powerful. Head Coach Vern Cotter has backed the widespread calls to change the controversial …

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