The 2024 Torneo Nacional de Clubes (named "Nacional de Clubes Copa Visa Macro" for sponsorship reasons)Tucumán Lawn Tennis se coronó como el mejor del país at UAR, 16 Nov 2024 the 27th. edition of Nacional de Clubes, a rugby union competition in Argentina organised by the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR). The final was held in Estadio Héctor Cabrera (mostly known as La Caldera del Parque),En las tribunas de “La Caldera del Parque” hubo victoria para todos at La Gaceta home venue of Tucumán LT, located in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán, on 16 November 2024.Se define el mejor equipo del país en el Nacional de Clubes Copa VISA Macro 2025 at uar.com.ar
Just as it has been every year since 2022,La vuelta del Nacional De Clubes at uar.com.ar, 14 Nov 2022 the competition is contested by two teams (champions of URBA Top 12 and Torneo del Interior), which play a single superfinal match.«Nacional de Clubes: SIC vs. Universitario, de Tucumán, una superfinal entre el campeón de Buenos Aires y el del resto del país para consagrar al mejor de la Argentina» at La Nación. 18 Nov 2023
The match was contested by Tucumán Lawn Tennis (champion of 2024 Torneo del Interior,Nacional de Clubes: Tucumán Lawn Tennis, el rival de Alumni en la final at espn.com.ar. 9 Nov 2024 which played their first final) and Alumni (champions of 2024 URBA Top 12, which played their 4th. final).
Tucumán LT, with fly-half Nicolás Sánchez (who had returned to the club in June that year) won the match 22–17, achieving their first national championship.Tucumán LT se coronó como el mejor equipo de rugby del país at El Tribuno. 16 Nov 2024Invicto y con tres títulos: el impresionante 2024 de Nicolás Sánchez con Tucumán Lawn Tennis at espn.com.ar With Sánchez leading the team, Tucumán LT set a 14-consecutive win record in both competitions.La impresionante racha de Lawn Tennis desde la vuelta de Nicolás Sánchez at enteratenoticias
Qualified teams Team Qualification Union Previous final app. Tucumán Lawn Tennis 2025 Torneo del Interior champion URT (none) Alumni 2024 URBA Top 12 champion URBA 1996, 2001, 2002 Note
Venue The final was held in Estadio Héctor Cabrera (mostly known as La Caldera del Parque),Apuntes de color desde la Caldera at tercertiemponoa.com. 14 Jul 2019 home venue of Tucumán LT, located in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán.El sábado se pondrá en juego la “Copa Ciudad de San Miguel de Tucumán” en la final del torneo de rugby de la URT at Ciudad de Tucumán. 23 May 2024 The stadium, with capacity for 10,000 spectators,Súper Rugby Américas: los estadios de todos los equipos on espn.com.ar. 12 Feb 2025 was named after number 8 Héctor Gallo Cabrera (died at 54 in 2007), regarded not only as one of the most notable players in the history of the club but of Tucumán's rugby.Apostillas de un sábado de gloria by Patricio Guzmán at Tercer Tiempo NOA. 16 Nov 2024 by Federico Espósito at lagaceta.com.ar, 27 Apr 2020 (archived)
Gallo –who had arrived to the club in 1972– had been a football player so he was good at kicking and used to take the penalty kicks. He also captained the Unión de Rugby de Tucumán (URT) team from 1976 to 1985, and was coach of both, Tucumán LT and the URT team. Gallo died from cancer in 2007.
Background Tucumán Lawn Tennis qualified as champions of Torneo del Interior, where they defeated Jockey Club Córdoba 3024 in the final, being their first regional title. Tucumán LT had entered to the Interior tournament as winners of the Torneo del Noroeste (6th. title).De la mano de Nicolás Sánchez, Tucumán Lawn Tennis se proclamó campeón del Torneo Regional del NOA at espn.com.ar
On the other hand, Alumni qualified as URBA champions after defeating their clásico, Belgrano Athletic, in the 2024 URBA Top 12 finalAlumni ganó un clásico para la historia y se quedó con el título de la URBA by Jorge Ciccodicola and Hernando De Cillia on pagina12.com.ar, 27 Oct 2024Alumni, campeón del Top 12 de URBA at La Nación. 26 Oct 2024
It was the first final contested by Tucumán LT. Before of that, their best performance was in 2015 when they reached the quarterfinals (lost to rivals Tucumán RC 22–20).Resultados - Nacional 2015 at aplenrugby.com.ar In the case of Alumni, their previous participations in national championship finals had been in 1996, 2001 (both lost to Hindú) and in 2002, when they won the championship defeating Jockey Club Rosario.Alumni se consagró campeón del Nacional de Clubes on Clarín. 26 Oct 2002
Match Alumni started stronger, using the maul as their main weapon, and took the lead with a try by Franco Battezzati. However, the home side didn't let the setback affect them, and an immediate try by Joaquín López Islas quickly turned the score around. With a penalty apiece, both teams went into halftime with the feeling that they hadn't shown their full potential, and with a score (10–8 in favor of the home side) that left the outcome of the second half wide open.
In the second half the game became more dramatic, and Nicolás Sánchez went head-to-head with his friend Santiago González Iglesias. The Alumni fullback put his team ahead with three penalties, but just when it seemed the cup was headed back to Buenos Aires, the Tucumán fly-half had the final say. With two penalties, the second in stoppage time, he sealed the victory for Tucumán that therefore crowned as national champions.
Details
FB 15Santiago Rez Masud (c) RW 14 Facundo Novillo OC 13 Stefano Ferro IC 12 José Gianotti LW 11 Lucas Solimo FH 10 Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Joaquín López Islas N8 8 Miguel Mukdise OF 7 Ignacio Manino BF 6 Pedro Bottini RL 5 Tomás Argüello LL 4 Juan Cruz Calliera TP 3 Rodrigo Navarro HK 2 Mariano Barrionuevo LP 1 Santiago Bellagamba Substitutions: 16 Mariano Bustamante 17 Luis Salazar 18 Agustín Iglesias 20 Stefano Jogna Prat 23 Matías Ferro 21 Santiago Sáleme 19 Luciano Casañas Coach: Álvaro Tejera
FB 15 Santiago González Iglesias RW 14 Ramón Fuentes OC 13 Tomás Cubilla IC 12 Franco Battezzati LW 11 Alejo Gonzáles Chaves FH 10 Joaquín Díaz Luzzi SH 9 Tomás Passerotti N8 8 Santiago Montagner OF 7 Patricio Anderson BF 6 Ignacio Cubilla RL 5 Santiago Alduncin LL 4 Manuel Mora TP 3 Bautista Vidal HK 2 Tomás Bivort (c) LP 1 Federico Lucca Substitutions: 18 Tomás Rapetti 20 Nicolás Promanzio 16 Máximo Castrillo 19 Bernardo Quaranta 22 Cruz González Bibolini Coaches: Rodrigo Jiménez Salice Hernán Ballatore
References