THE PUMAS SHOWED THEIR CLAWS AT RUGBY 7 IN SANTIAGO 2023

The Argentine men’s rugby sevens team won the championship twice and the United States women’s team earned its first medal in sevens.

The heptets of Argentina and the United States won the rugby 7s of the Pan American Games after two dates of intense matches between the 16 teams which took place at the municipal stadium of La Pintana, south of Santiago.

The men’s final was played in a full stadium between Argentina and Chile. The Pumas beat Los Cóndores 24-5 thanks to a remarkable performance from Alejo Lavayen, who scored three tries. The match was a spectacle of intensity due to the pace set by the teams on the pitch and the atmosphere in the stands. With this victory, Argentina won the double rugby sevens championship at the Pan American Games. In Lima 2019, they beat Canada in the final.

“It was very tough. There is no doubt that Chile has grown and will continue to grow. For us, they are always very difficult matches, we play on an equal footing and it is always nice to “Facing Chile, who are from this region. You felt the competition, the physicality and the public against you,” said Germán Schulz, Pumas player.

“The result was very positive. Our first goal was to get a medal and getting to the final was something we dreamed of. We came out to play them as equals, to try to get gold and enjoy it, because singing the anthem with all the people coming to support us is impressive. The result has not been given, but the results are positive,” declared Chilean Tomás Salas.

In the women’s game, the United States beat Canada 19-12. The Canadians started better, but could not maintain their superiority in Santiago 2023, where they aspired to seal the triple championship. The Americans were finally able to put an end to the hegemony of their Canadian neighbors, who had beaten them in the two previous versions of rugby sevens at the Pan American Games, in Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019.

“Unreal. Unreal. We fought so hard for this, probably more than necessary. But it’s love and connection that brought us here and gave us this medal.“said American Samantha Sullivan.

In a very close duel for third place, Canada defeated the United States 19-17 and managed to win bronze. On the women’s side, Brazil outscored Colombia by a crushing score of 45-0.

Written by José Pablo Guevara