Wales' Historic Rugby Tours in Argentina: Drama, Triumphs, and Rivalries

Wales' rugby tours in Argentina span nearly 60 years, featuring historic wins, intense rivalries, and memorable incidents including red cards and brawls. This legacy continues with a brief 2023 visit ahead of matches in South Africa.

Wales' Rugby Tours in Argentina: A Legacy of Intense Encounters

Wales have toured Argentina on five previous occasions, continuing nearly six decades of rugby history against the Pumas on their home soil.

It has been eight years since Wales last toured South America. This current visit is brief, featuring a single Nations Championship match in San Juan before Steve Tandy's squad travels to Durban to face South Africa.

Unlike previous tours, Wales have never before made the 7,000-mile journey for just one match, with the team arriving in Argentina on two separate flights.

Their past tours have been marked by numerous dramatic incidents and memorable moments across Buenos Aires and other locations.

Wales reviews the rich and eventful history of Wales' matches hosted by the Pumas.

1968: Wales' First Tour to Argentina and the Question of Caps

It was 58 years ago when Wales first toured South America, a six-match series led by coach Clive Rowlands. The Pumas surprised the visitors by winning the series with one victory and one draw.

Wales achieved three wins, two draws, and one defeat during this tour. For players like Phil Bennett and JPR Williams, it marked the beginning of distinguished careers, while for others, it was their sole opportunity to represent Wales.

Initially, the two matches played were not recognized as official by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). However, in 2013, seven players were awarded president's caps, and the matches were retrospectively granted Test status.

1999: A Historic and Contentious Series

After a 31-year gap, Wales returned to Argentina in 1999 under the captaincy of Rob Howley.

Graham Henry's squad made history by becoming the first northern hemisphere team to win a 2-0 Test series against the Pumas in Argentina. Both Tests were held in Buenos Aires, with Wales winning 36-26 and 23-16, contributing to a 10-match winning streak under Henry.

Neil Jenkins scored 18 points in the second Test, surpassing 800 international points.

This series is also remembered for one of the most notorious brawls in Welsh rugby history. The altercation began on the field and escalated to the dugout after Argentine prop Mauricio Reggiardo punched Welsh wing Dafydd James. Players from both sides became involved in the melee.

Reggiardo, Argentine captain Pedro Sporleder, and Wales prop Peter Rogers received yellow cards, yet no players were sent off.

The animosity between the teams persisted into the 1999 World Cup opener in Cardiff, where Wales hooker Garin Jenkins suffered an eye gouge, and flanker Colin Charvis was suspended for two games due to retaliatory actions.

Rob Howley off the ground hugs a Wales team-mate on the successful tour of Argentina in 1999 — Image caption, Wales were captained by Rob Howley on the successful tour of Argentina in 1999

2004: A Balanced Series Highlighted by Shane Williams' Brilliance

The 2004 tour bore similarities to the current itinerary, with Wales facing Argentina and South Africa on the same trip.

Mike Ruddock led his first Wales tour, beginning with a two-Test series against the Pumas in Buenos Aires.

The opening match was a high-scoring thriller, with Argentina narrowly defeating Wales 50-44 in a game featuring 94 points and 11 tries. Felipe Contepomi, now Argentina's coach, scored 20 points, one more than Wales' Gavin Henson.

Wales secured a 35-20 victory in the second Test, powered by a first-half hat-trick from Shane Williams and 15 points from Henson.

Following the series draw, Wales traveled across five time zones to Pretoria to face South Africa at altitude, resulting in a 53-18 defeat.

Image caption, Shane Williams scored 58 tries in 87 internationals for Wales

2006: Argentina Prevails as Alun Wyn Jones Begins His Record-Breaking Career

Under new head coach Gareth Jenkins, appointed in April 2006, Wales lost both Tests in Argentina.

The first Test took place in Puerto Madryn, a city within the historic Welsh colony of Patagonia, established by settlers in 1865.

The Pumas edged a 27-25 victory. This match marked the international debut of lock Alun Wyn Jones, who played flanker in this game and would later become the most capped player globally.

Ian Evans, another Ospreys lock, had a notable tour. He scored a remarkable try in the first Test with a 45-metre run after intercepting a pass from Agustin Pichot.

However, Evans was cited and received a six-week ban following a reckless charge on Pichot during the second Test, which ended in a 45-27 defeat for Wales in Buenos Aires.

Alun Wyn Jones in action in his first Wales cap in 2006 — Image caption, Alun Wyn Jones played 158 internationals for Wales and 12 Tests for the British and Irish Lions

2018: Wales' Dominant Series and Ross Moriarty's Red Card

Wales replicated their 1999 success by winning a two-Test series against the Pumas in 2018 under coach Warren Gatland.

Prior to the series, Wales played a one-off Test against South Africa in Washington DC, marking Rassie Erasmus' first match as Springbok coach.

Gatland selected a squad missing many players who had toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2017. The team was captained jointly by Ellis Jenkins and Cory Hill.

The opening Test in San Juan, the venue for the upcoming match, ended in a 23-10 victory for Wales, with tries from flanker James Davies and wing George North, complemented by Rhys Patchell's kicking.

Patchell contributed 20 points in the second Test in Santa Fe, leading to a 30-12 win with tries from Josh Adams and Hallam Amos.

The only blemish was a late red card shown to number eight Ross Moriarty for a prolonged headlock on Pumas outside-half Nicolas Sanchez.

This series victory elevated Wales to third in the world rankings and laid the foundation for Gatland's 14-match winning streak, which included topping the rankings briefly, winning the 2019 Grand Slam, and reaching the 2019 World Cup semi-finals in Japan.

Wales were scheduled to tour Argentina in 2021, but the two matches were relocated to Cardiff due to Covid-19, with the Pumas winning one game and drawing the other.