The 1978 Argentina rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and Italy was a series of nine matches played by the

Argentina national rugby union team The Argentina national rugby union team (Spanish: ''Selección de rugby de Argentina'') represents Argentina in men's international rugby union; it is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union ( es, Unión Argentina de Rugby). Nicknamed the Pumas ...

in September and October 1978.Memoria y Balance 1978
on UAR website Six of the nine matches were played in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, with the tourists going on to play one match each in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. The tour featured the first ever test match between Argentina and Italy. Argentina won five matches, lost three and drew one. The draw came against

, although England did not award full international caps for the fixture. The tour captain,

Hugo Porta Hugo Porta (born 11 September 1951) is a former Argentine Rugby Union footballer, an inductee of both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame, and one of the best fly-halves the sport has seen. During the 1970s and 1980s, he p ...

, played all nine games, scored 94 of the team's 157 points on tour and, according to Rothmans Rugby Yearbook, "established himself as one of the world's great players" on the tour.Rothmans p 47

Touring squad

Team Manager:

Ángel Guastella Ángel Guastella (Buenos Aires, 7 November 1931 - San Miguel de Tucumán, 26 September 2016) was an Argentine rugby union footballer and coach. He played as fly-half. Biography Guastella was a founding member of Club Pueyrredón, of which he ...

Full back * Martín Sansot ( Pueyrredón'' –

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

'') Three-quarters *

Marcelo Campo Marcelo Campo (1 July 1957 – 26 June 2021) was an Argentine rugby union player. He played as a wing. Career Campo played for Old Georgians, from Quilmes. With said club, he was in the international rugby scene. The first time he wore Argentin ...

(

Old Georgian Old Georgian (ႤႬႠჂ ႵႠႰႧႭჃႪႨ, ''enay kartuli'') was a literary language of the Georgian monarchies attested from the 5th century. The language remains in use as the liturgical language of the Georgian Orthodox Church and for ...

) * Adolfo Cappelletti (

Banco Nación Banco may refer to: Places * Banc (Barcelona Metro), also called Banco, a closed metro stop on the Barcelona metro * Banco, Virginia, an unincorporated community * Banco, West Virginia, an unincorporated community * Banco National Park, a nation ...

) *

Marcelo Loffreda Marcelo Loffreda (born May 17, 1959, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine former rugby union footballer and coach. Loffreda won 44 caps with one as captain, playing at centre for the Argentine rugby union side (''los Pumas''). He played muc ...

(

San Isidro Club San Isidro Club (mostly known for its acronym SIC) is an Argentine sports club based in the Boulogne Sur Mer district of Greater Buenos Aires. The club has gained recognition due to its rugby union team, being one of the most successful clubs of A ...

) *

Rafael Madero Rafael M. Madero (born Buenos Aires, 16 July 1958) is an Argentine former rugby union player and coach. He played as a Fullback. Centre and Fly-half. Career Starting his career in the SIC, Madero played for the team until 1990; as a wing, centre, ...

(

) *

Alejandro Puccio Alejandro Rafael Puccio (1958 – June 27, 2008) was an Argentine rugby union footballer and criminal. He played in the Argentinian national rugby union team and became famous because of his participation on a criminal organization dedicated t ...

( C.A. San Isidro) * Javier Trucco ( Universitario B.A.) * Eduardo Sanguinetti ( Universitario B.A.) Half-backs * Alejandro Cerioni ( Pueyrredón) * Alejandro Cubelli ( Belgrano A.C.) * Javier Escalante ( Duendes * Tomás Landajo ( Pueyrredón) *

(

) * Alfredo Soares Gache (

) Forwards * Alejandro Iachetti ( Hindú) * Hugo Nicola (

Curupaytí Curupaytí Club de Rugby is an Argentine rugby union club located in the Hurlingham district of the homonymous partido. The squad currently plays in Primera División A, the second division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system. ...

) * Ricardo Passaglia (

La Tablada La Tablada is a city in Argentina. It is located in La Matanza Partido and is part of the Greater Buenos Aires metro area. Overview La Tablada initially developed around the Buenos Aires Western Railway ( es, Ferrocarril Oeste de Buenos Aires) ...

) * Guillermo Paz (

Alumni Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...

) * Tomás Petersen (

) * Topo Rodriguez ( Tala) * Ronaldo Seaton ( Atlético del Rosario) * Carlos Serrano ( Hindú) * Héctor Silva (

Los Tilos LOS, or Los, or LoS may refer to: Science and technology * Length of stay, the duration of a single episode of hospitalisation * Level of service, a measure used by traffic engineers * Level of significance, a measure of statistical significance ...

) *

Gabriel Travaglini Gabriel Travaglini (born in Buenos Aires, 14 February 1958) is an Argentine retired rugby union player. He played as number 8. He played for CASI for all of his entire career. As of April 2022, he is the chairman of Unión Argentina de Rugby. Ca ...

( C.A. San Isidro) * Rodolfo Ventura (

Newman Newman is a surname of English origin and may refer to many people: The surname Newman is widespread in the core Anglosphere. A *Abram Newman (1736–1799), British grocer *Adrian Newman (disambiguation), multiple people *Al Newman (born 1960) ...

)

The matches

Complete list of matches played by Argentina:

Southern Counties

Southern Counties: I.Gale.

Clive Rees Clive Frederick William Rees (born 6 October 1951 in Singapore) is a former Welsh rugby union player. He won thirteen caps as left wing for Wales between 1973 and 1983. Clive Rees's rugby career started at Llanelli Grammar School in the late 19 ...

, B.Reynolds, D.Course-, R.Ellis Jones; J.Wright e I.George; G.Sharpe, R.Jackson, J.Coock, J.Mawle,

John Orwin John Orwin (born 20 March 1954) is a former Rugby union lock. Orwin toured New Zealand with England playing in both tests in 1985. He then captained on their tour to Australia & Fiji in 1988. He played for and captained Gloucester, Bedford, the ...

Paul Rendall Paul Anthony George Rendall (18 February 1954 – 13 June 2023) was an English rugby union player. He played as a prop. Nicknamed "the Judge", Rendall played for London Wasps. Rendall had 28 caps for England, from 1984, when he was already 30 ...

, A.Jenkins, Gary Pearce.
Argentina: M.Sansot; A.Puccio, R.Madero, M.Loffreda, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), R.Landajo; C.Serreno, H.Silva, T.Petersen; A.Iachetti, G.Travaglini; H.Nicola; R..Seaton, A.Cerioni.

London Division

London Division: K.M.Bushell; R.O.Demming; N.R.French,

Clive Woodward Sir Clive Ronald Woodward (born 6 January 1956) is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He also coached the 2005 British & Irish Lions ...

Derek Wyatt Derek Murray Wyatt (born 4 December 1949) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sittingbourne and Sheppey from 1997 to 2010, having previously been a councillor in the London Borough of Haringey (1994–95) where ...

; Nick Preston, M.R.Conner; T.C.Claston, P.d'A.Keith-Roach (capt.) A.J.Cutter, Neil Mantell,

Maurice Colclough Maurice John Colclough (2 September 1953 – 27 January 2006) was an international rugby union player. He was selected for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa and the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand, playing in all four inte ...

, A.C.Alexander,

Bob Mordell Bob Mordell (born 2 July 1953) is an English former professional rugby union and rugby league footballer, and also a manager. He played rugby league as a professional for Oldham ( Heritage № 837), Kent Invicta and Fulham RLFC ( Heritage № ...

Andy Ripley Andrew George Ripley OBE (1 December 1947 – 17 June 2010) was an English rugby union international, who represented England from 1972 to 1976, and the Lions on their unbeaten 1974 tour of South Africa. Early life Ripley was born in Liverp ...

.
Argentina: M.Sansot; A.Puccio, M.Loffreda, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), R.Landajo; H.Silva, T.Pe¬tersen, G.Paz; G.Travaglini, A.Iachetti; H.Nicola, A.Cubelli, A.Cerioni.

Northern Division

North of England: D.Boyd; Peter Squires, Tony Bond, W.Lyon,

Mike Slemen Michael Anthony Charles Slemen (11 May 1951 – 20 July 2020) was an international rugby union player. He toured South Africa in 1980 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Liverpool St Helens F.C., Liverpool. ...

; John Horton,

Malcolm Young Malcolm Mitchell Young (6 January 1953 – 18 November 2017) was an Australian musician who was the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter of AC/DC. Except for a brief absence in 1988, he was with the band from its beginn ...

;

Fran Cotton Francis Edward Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clo ...

; K.Pacey, J.Bell,

Bill Beaumont Sir William Blackledge Beaumont, (born 9 March 1952 in Chorley, Lancashire, England) is a former rugby union player, and was captain of the England rugby union team, earning 34 caps. His greatest moment as captain was the unexpected 1980 Grand Sl ...

(capt.), J.Buttler,

Peter Dixon Peter John Dixon (born 30 April 1944) is a former England international rugby union player. Dixon played for Oxford University RFC in four consecutive Varsity Matches from 1967 to 1970. He played for Cumberland at county level alongside Da ...

, P.Moss, K.Higgins.
Argentina: M.Sansot; M.Campo, J.Trueco, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), R.Landajo; T.Petersen, C.Serrano, H.Silva; A.Iachetti, R.Passaglia; H.Nicola, R.Sea¬ton, E.Rodríguez.

North Midlands

North Midlands: P.J.Mumford.C.Perry, A.Watson-Jones, M.K.Swain, M.A.Hall;

Les Cusworth Les Cusworth (born 31 July 1954) is a former English rugby union footballer and current Argentine Director of Rugby. Education He was educated at Normanton Grammar School and the West Midlands College of Education, a teacher training college ( ...

, P.C.Bullock; T.F.Corless, G.N.J.Cox, J.J.Moore, B.Aire, N.J.Bekewell, J.C.White, T.Clarke, D.Nutt.
Argentina: M.Sansot; M.Campo, M.Lofreda, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), A.Soares Gache; G.Paz, C.Serrano, G.Travaglini; R.Passaglia, A.Iachetti; H.Nicola, R.Seaton, A.Cerioni.

The English Students

English Students:

Marcus Rose William Marcus Henderson Rose (born 12 January 1957) is a former rugby union international full back who gained ten caps for England between 1981 and 1987. Career Rose made his debut in senior rugby while still at Loughborough Grammar School, ...

; J.Basnett, A.Harrower,

, P.Asquith; 1.Wilkins, M.Conner; S.Wilkes, M.Howe, J.Doubleday,

Paul Ackford Paul Ackford (born 26 February 1958) is a former English rugby union international who played lock forward. He was formerly an inspector in the Metropolitan Police, and is now a columnist for The Telegraph. Early life Ackford was born in Hano ...

Steve Bainbridge Stephen Bainbridge (born 7 October 1956) is a former international rugby union player. In 1983 he toured with the British and Irish Lions on their tour to New Zealand and in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He played amongst other teams for club rug ...

, Toby Allchurch,

Nick Jeavons Nicholas Clive Jeavons (born ) is a former international rugby union player. In 1983 he toured with the British and Irish Lions on their tour to New Zealand and at the time played club rugby for Moseley Moseley is a suburb of south Birmin ...

, Peter Polledri.
Argentina: E.Sanguinetti; M.Campo, J.Escalante, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), R.Landajo; G.Paz, G.Travaglini, H.Silva; R.Passaglia, A.Iachetti; H.Nicola, A.Cubelli, A.Cerioni.

England

Wales "B"

Wales "B": I.Walsh;

Elgan Rees Harold Elgan Rees (born 5 January 1954) is a Welsh former international rugby union player. Rugby career Rees toured with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand in 1977, when he had yet to be capped by Wales, and South Africa in 1980 and at ...

, N.Hutchings,

Peter Morgan Peter Julian Robin Morgan, (10 April 1963) is a British screenwriter and playwright. He is the playwright behind '' The Audience'' and '' Frost/Nixon'' and the screenwriter of ''The Queen'' (2006), '' Frost/Nixon'' (2008), ''The Damned United ...

, R.Ellis¬Jones; D.Barry, Gerald Williams; D.Jones, G.Davies, D.Lewis,

Richard Moriarty Richard Moriarty (born 1 May 1957 at Gorseinon near Swansea) is a Welsh former rugby union player. He played 23 matches for Wales, either as a second row or back row forward, scoring two tries, and captained Wales eight times. During his time as ...

, Steve Sutton, Gareth Williams, Ch.Seldon,

Paul Ringer Paul Ringer (born 28 January 1948) is an English-born former Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer. He played representative level rugby union for Wales and at club level for Ebbw Vale RFC, Llanell ...

.
Argentina: M.Sansot; M.Campo, M.Loffreda, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), A.Soares Gache; T.Peter¬sen, C.Serrano, G, Travaglini; R.Passaglia, A.lachetti; H.Nicola, A.Cubelli, A.Cerioni.

Leinster

Leinster: F.Ennis; Terry Kennedy, P.Andrucetti,

Paul McNaughton Paul Peter Patrick McNaughton (18 November 1952 – November 2022) was an Irish rugby union, soccer and GAA player during the 1970s and 1980s. He was also manager of the Irish Rugby Team, a position he held from 2008 to 2011. He played rugby ...

Freddie McLennan Freddie McLennan (born 8 February 1951) is a former Irish rugby union international player, playing for Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland on the left wing. McLennan was educated at Newbridge College and played schools rugby for them. ...

; M.Quinn, John Moloney (capt.);

Phil Orr Philip Andrew Orr (born 14 December 1950) is a former Irish international and British and Irish Lions Rugby Union loosehead prop. Orr was born in Dublin. Educated at The High School, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, he played for Old Wesley ...

, John Cantrell, M.Fitzpatrick,

Willie Duggan William Patrick Duggan (12 March 1950 – 28 August 2017) was an Irish international rugby union player. He won 41 Irish caps, the first in 1975 and finished his international career in 1984 as captain. He toured New Zealand in 1977 with the Br ...

, E.O'Raffertty,

Fergus Slattery John Fergus Slattery (born 12 February 1949 in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland) is a former rugby union player who represented Ireland. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for UCD, before earning a call ...

, Shay Deering, Mike Gibson.
Argentina: M.Sansot; M.Campo, J.Trucco, R.Madero, A.Cappelletti; H.Porta (capt.), Landajo; H.Silva, T.Petersen, G.Travaglini; R.Passaglia, A.lachetti; H.Nicola, A.Cubelli, A.Cerioni.

Italy

Italy: 15.Rocco Caligiuri, 14.

Massimo Mascioletti Massimo Mascioletti (born 4 March 1958 in L'Aquila) is an Italian rugby union coach and a former player. He used to play as a wing and as a centre. Mascioletti had 54 caps for Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) ...

, 13.Nello Francescato, 12.Rino Francescato, 11.

Serafino Ghizzoni Serafino Ghizzoni (born L'Aquila, Italy, 16 October 1954) is a former Italian international rugby union footballer, who played the 1st Rugby World Cup in 1987. Biography Born and raised in L'Aquila, Ghizzoni started playing rugby at L'Aquila R ...

, 10. Loredano Zuin, 9.

Angelo Visentin Angelo is an Italian masculine given name and surname meaning "angel", or "messenger". People People with the given name *Angelo Accattino (born 1966), Italian prelate of the Catholic Church *Angelo Acciaioli (bishop) (1298–1357), Italian Rom ...

, 8.

Elio de Anna Elio De Anna (born September 30, 1949 in Cordenons)Elio De Anna rugby profile
Scrum.com is an ...

, 7. Fiorenzo Blessano, 6. Paolo Mariani, 5. Adriano Fedrigo, 4. Fulvio di Carlo, 3.

Ambrogio Bona Ambrogio is a given name, and may refer to: *Saint Ambrogio (Ambrose), patron saint of Milan *Ambrogio Lorenzetti ( – 1348), painter * Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, the birth name of Pope Pius XI *Ambrogio Bergognone, Renaissance painter *Amb ...

(capT.), 2. Claudio Robazza, 1. Anacleto Altigieri – ''Replacement:''

Narciso Zanella Narciso may refer to: Given name * Narciso Clavería y de Palacios, Spanish architect * Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa, Governor General of the Philippines * Narciso dos Santos, Brazilian former footballer * Narciso Durán, Franciscan friar and missio ...

Argentina 15.Eduardo Sanguinetti, 14.Martín Sansot, 13.Javier Escalante, 12.

, 11.

, 10.

(cap), 9.Alfredo Soares Gache, 8.

, 7.Tomás Petersen, 6.Carlos Serrano, 5.Ricardo Passaglia, 4.Alejandro Iachetti, 3.Alejandro Cerioni, 2.Alejandro Cubelli, 1.Rodolfo Ventura – ''Replacement:'' Adolfo Cappelletti, Hugo Nicola

Bibliography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Argentina

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd go ...

Argentina–Italy sports relations

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

1978–79 in English rugby union 1978–79 in Welsh rugby union 1978–79 in Italian rugby union 1978–79 in Irish rugby union History of rugby union matches between Argentina and England History of rugby union matches between Argentina and Ireland