The 1899 River Plate Rugby Union championship was the inaugural season of the RPRU championship, the first rugby union club competition held in Argentina, organised by the "River Plate Rugby Union" (current Argentine Rugby Union). It was contested by the five founding members of the RPRU: Belgrano, Rosario, Lomas, Buenos Aires, and Flores.Fundación del River Plate Rugby Championship on Club Atlético del Rosario, 10 April 2019120 Aniversario UAR , p.6, Olé, 10 April 2019Los clubes fundadores by Sebastián Perasso on Rugby Fun, 31 October 2013
Uruguayan club Montevideo C.C. was invited to take part of the competition but they declined to participate due to the long travel time to Argentina by ship.Fundación del River Plate Rugby Union Championship (1899) on Atlético del Rosario, 18 April 2019THE BIRTH OF CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY IN ARGENTINA at World Rugby Museum, 4 Nov 2022
In the inaugural game, Lomas defeated Buenos Aires by 11-4. Lomas would be the first Argentine champion, winning the title at the end of the season.
Teams Club Headquarters Estab. Venue Belgrano A.C. Belgrano 1896 Virrey del Pino Buenos Aires F.C. Belgrano 1886 (None) Flores A.C. Flores 1893 Flores Old Ground Lomas A.C. Lomas de Zamora 1891 Lomas Field Rosario A.C. Rosario 1867 Plaza Jewell Notes
Results List of matches played in the season. Rosario A.C. entered directly in the semifinals.
First round
DateHomeRes.AwayVenue 11 May Lomas Buenos Aires Lomas Field ? Flores Belgrano Flores Old Ground 28 May Flores Buenos Aires Flores Old Ground 1 June Belgrano Buenos Aires Virrey del Pino 4 June Flores Lomas Lomas Field 11 June Lomas Buenos Aires Lomas Field 18 June Belgrano Flores Virrey del Pino 24 June Buenos Aires Flores Lomas Field 25 June Belgrano Lomas Virrey del Pino 2 July Buenos Aires Belgrano Lomas Field 9 July Flores Lomas Flores Old Ground 16 July Lomas Belgrano Lomas Field
Table standings Team Pts. Pld. W D L Qualification Belgrano 8 6 4 0 2 Advanced to semi-finals Buenos Aires 8 6 4 0 2 Advanced to semi-finals Lomas 8 6 4 0 2 Advanced to semi-finals Flores 0 6 0 0 6 Eliminated
Semifinals
DateHomeRes.AwayVenueCity 23 July Rosario Buenos Aires Plaza Jewell Rosario
DateHomeRes.AwayVenueCity 23 July Lomas Belgrano Flores Old Ground Buenos Aires
Final The final was played at Flores Old Ground in Caballito, Buenos Aires. All proceeds were donated to the British Hospital of Buenos Aires.Rugby - logros at Lomas AC In a match where both teams showed to be equalled in strength of play, Lomas won the game when they were awarded a free-kick that captain F.H. Jacobs scored for a 3–0 win.
FB S. Mohr BellB H.A. CowesB A.J. MacMorranB A. Anderson B H.B. Anderson HB H. Mohr BellHB C.W. Romer FW E.H. Liversidge FW H.P. Wright FW A.A. Miller FW T.R. Abbott FW R. Smiles FW C.H. Campbell FW Franck Chevallier Boutell FW F.H. Jacobs (c)
FB G. Smythies B E.M. Pixton B H. Colson B F.W. Boardman B H. Dorning HB R. Dorning HB G. Topping FW J.A. Beaumont FW L. Jacobs FW F.C. Thurn FW E. Jewell FW A.J. SykesFW C.B. BradburyFW A.S. Wilcox FW P.W. Pixton
Aftermath It was the first and only championship contested by Flores A.C.Fundadores by Jorge Búsico, 11 April 2018 A pioneer in several sports disciplines in Argentina, Flores A.C. had played its first match on 19 July 1896, against Buenos Aires F.C. In 1907 Flores Athletic sold some of its facilities to neighbor Club Ferro Carril Oeste, for m$n 700. It is believed that the club was dissolved after this transaction.Una investigación sobre la Historia del Flores Athletic Club, Rubén Ayala, C.E.H.R., Buenos Aires (1997)
Before disappearing, Flores had also took part in the first Primera División championship in 1891. The polo team of the institution also won the fourth edition of Abierto de Polo in 1894.100 años de polo en la Argentina 1888–1988, Elsa Boglione, Buenos Aires, 1988
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