Sudamérica Rugby

What Sudamérica Rugby does

Sudamérica Rugby is a non-profit regional sports governing body founded in 1989 and headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that administers rugby union across South America and parts of Central America. It serves as the official regional representative of World Rugby and coordinates 13 national member unions across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The organization's primary customers are these national unions, with secondary users including players, coaches, referees, and medical staff at all levels. It is governed by a council that was renewed in May 2026 with Gabriel Travaglini and Andrés Ramos replacing Fernando Rizzi and Enrique Rodríguez Llames, and operates with approximately 20 employees. The organization is positioned as the exclusive regulatory and development intermediary for rugby in the region, with no commercial products or services sold.

The product portfolio is organized around two pillars: competition management and education/development. Competition products include the Sudamericano Rugby Cup and its tiered divisions (Mayor A, B, C), youth championships (Juvenil A/B/M18), Sevens tournaments (SAR 7s and Seven Femenino), and the professional club competition Súper Rugby Américas (expanding to eight franchises for 2026). Education products include the Rugby Ready player welfare and safety program, Get Into Rugby (a mass-participation program that reached 9.1 million players globally in 2017), Leading Rugby coaching certification, Keep Rugby Clean anti-doping education aligned with WADA standards, and the Academia SAR de Alto Rendimiento, which has completed seven editions by December 2024. Technology components include the World Rugby Passport portal (over 1 million global users), digital access to Laws of Rugby in 11 languages via website and mobile apps, and the Capacitación y Desarrollo platform coordinating courses for match-day personnel, educators, coaches, and medical staff across nine countries. Distribution flows through national union infrastructure and intensive in-person training events (SuperWeeks and SuperWeekends, some drawing over 350 participants).

The business model is non-commercial and grant-funded: activities are financed through World Rugby membership allocations, national union contributions, and development grants. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization operates as a regulatory monopoly within its geographic scope, with structurally captive 'customers' (national unions cannot access World Rugby qualification pathways such as the Rugby World Cup or Olympic Sevens cycle without going through SAR). Recent strategic milestones include Super Rugby Américas expansion to eight franchises for 2026, Uruguay's qualification for its sixth Rugby World Cup in 2025, and Guatemala's elevation to full World Rugby membership — collectively signaling ongoing regional growth despite limited staffing and no commercial revenue base.

Name

Sudamérica Rugby

Legal name

Sudamérica Rugby

Website

https://sudamericarugby.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sudamérica Rugby is a non-profit regional sports governing body founded in 1989 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that oversees rugby union across 13 member nations in South and Central America, organizing competitions and certifying coaches, referees, and medical staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/Continental Confederations & Associations (MPAKAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Team & Club Coaching (seasonal team coaching) (HSADAEAF)

Keywords

• Regional rugby governance
• Rugby competition management
• Sports federation services
• Rugby coaching education
• Athlete development programs

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sudamérica Rugby is the official regional governing body for rugby in South America, organizing regional competitions (Sudamericano Mayor A/B/C, Juvenil A/B, SAR 7s, Seven Femenino), delivering World Rugby-aligned training and certification programs (Get Into Rugby, Leading Rugby, Keep Rugby Clean, Rugby Ready, Capacitación y Desarrollo), and running the SAR Academy for high-performance athlete development. The federation serves as the exclusive regional liaison to World Rugby, managing qualification pathways to Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games across 13 member nations.

Product overview

Sudamérica Rugby is a regional sports organization governing rugby across South America. The organization offers a portfolio of competitive products including national team championships (Sudamericano Mayor A/B/C), youth competitions (Juvenil A/B/M18), and seven-a-side formats (SAR 7s/Seven Femenino). Supporting these competitions, the organization provides education and development programs such as the Academia SAR de Alto Rendimiento (high-performance academy), Get Into Rugby (massification), Leading Rugby (coaching education), Keep Rugby Clean (anti-doping), and comprehensive capacitación (training) programs covering coaching, match officials, medical/wellness, and player welfare. The SAR Lab provides multimedia content featuring interviews and columns. The portfolio operates as an integrated ecosystem supporting the entire rugby development pipeline from grassroots to elite competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAR 7s: Sudamérica Rugby Sevens tournament for both men's and women's teams
• Sudamericano Rugby Cup
• SAR Academy
• SAR Lab

Products and services

• Sudamérica Rugby Cup Flagship regional rugby championship tournament organized by Sudamérica Rugby, featuring national teams competing across divisions and serving as the primary regional pathway to Rugby World Cup.
• Sudamericano Mayor A Top-tier men's rugby competition featuring Argentina XV, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay national teams competing in the senior 15-a-side format.
• Sudamericano Mayor B Second-tier men's rugby competition for developing rugby nations in the region.
• Sudamericano Mayor C Third-tier men's rugby competition for emerging rugby nations in the region.
• Sudamericano Juvenil A (M18) Youth rugby competition for players under 18 years old across the South American region.
• Sudamericano Juvenil B (M19) Youth rugby competition for players under 19 years old across the South American region.
• SAR 7s (Seven) Annual seven-a-side rugby tournament for men bringing together national teams from up to 12 countries, serving as the primary competition and Olympic qualification pathway.
• Seven Femenino Women's seven-a-side rugby tournament featuring national teams from South America.
• Academia SAR de Alto Rendimiento High-performance academy program dedicated to training, evaluating, and selecting professionals for professional rugby structures.
• Get Into Rugby World Rugby mass participation program implemented across the region for grassroots rugby introduction and accessibility.
• Leading Rugby World Rugby coaching education program delivered across the region through certified educators, providing standardized coaching methodology and certification pathways.
• Keep Rugby Clean World Rugby anti-doping education initiative delivered across member nations, aligned with WADA standards and promoting clean sport principles.
• Capacitación y Desarrollo Comprehensive training and development framework offering courses for Match Day Personnel, Educators, Coaches, Player Welfare and Medical staff across nine countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350 participants in single SuperWeek training events in Brazil
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• World RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Rugby is the international governing body for rugby union and rugby sevens. Sudamérica Rugby operates as its regional representative for South America, receiving funding, technical support, and alignment with global standards. The partnership enables access to World Rugby's educational platforms (Passport, Rugby Ready), competition pathways, and development programs.
• World Rugby Get Into RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGet Into Rugby is World Rugby's mass participation program that reached 9.1 million players globally in 2017. Sudamérica Rugby implements this program across the region, with over a quarter of participants being women and girls, promoting rugby accessibility at grassroots level.
• World Rugby Keep Rugby CleancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeep Rugby Clean is World Rugby's anti-doping education initiative. Sudamérica Rugby delivers this program across member nations, aligning with WADA standards and promoting clean sport principles through educational workshops and materials.
• World Rugby Leading RugbymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Rugby is World Rugby's coaching education program that Sudamérica Rugby delivers through certified educators across the region. The program provides standardized coaching methodology and certification pathways.
• Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentina's national rugby union is a founding member and key partner. UAR hosts major events and serves as primary venue for SuperWeeks and high-level competitions. The relationship includes shared facilities and collaborative program delivery.
• Brasil Rugby (CBRu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazil's national rugby federation is a major partner hosting multiple SuperWeeks and regional events. Brasil Rugby has shown significant growth, winning the Sudamericano 6 Naciones and developing strong women's and youth programs.
• Chile RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChile's national rugby union hosts SuperWeeks and major competitions. Chile Rugby has demonstrated strong development, qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2023 and maintaining competitive Sevens programs.
• Súper Rugby AméricasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional professional club competition featuring franchises from Argentina (Selknam, Dogos, Coringas, Cafés), Chile (Selknam), Uruguay (Peñarol, City), Brazil (Cobras), Paraguay (Yacarés). The competition provides professional pathways for South American rugby players and serves as a talent identification platform.
• Uruguay Rugby (URU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguay's national rugby union hosts SuperWeekends and serves as venue for regional competitions. Uruguay has achieved significant success, qualifying for Rugby World Cups and developing strong youth programs.
• Unión de Rugby del Paraguay (URP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParaguay's national rugby union hosts SuperWeeks and major regional tournaments including the SAR 7s Femenino. The union represents a developing rugby nation with growing participation.
• Federación Colombiana de Rugby (FCR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombia's rugby federation has shown rapid growth, achieving significant results in women's rugby including participation in WXV3. The federation represents an emerging rugby power in the region.
• Federación Peruana de Rugby (FPR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeru's rugby federation hosts SuperWeeks and regional events. Peru has demonstrated strength in youth categories, winning Sudamericano Mayor B and M19 championships.
• Federación Costarricense de Rugby (FRCR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosta Rica's rugby federation represents a developing rugby nation. The federation participates in SuperWeekend training programs designed for nations with emerging rugby structures.
• World Rugby Hall of Fame Members (Felipe Contepomi, Juan Martín Hernández)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Rugby Hall of Fame inductees contribute to training programs as guest educators. Felipe Contepomi (Pumas coach) and Juan Martín Hernández participated as speakers in Level 3 Coach Courses, bringing elite expertise to regional development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Rugby: The global governing body for rugby union and sevens, of which SAR is a regional member. Comparable as the apex body providing funding, technical support, and competition pathways to regional federations like SAR.
• Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR): National governing body for rugby in France with comparable federation responsibilities (competitions, training, referee development, women's rugby pathways), though at significantly larger scale.
• Rugby Football Union (RFU): National governing body for rugby union in England — comparable in federation structure (member clubs, competitions, referee development) but at much greater scale and resources.

Emerging players

• Super Rugby Americas: Professional rugby competition operated across South American franchises. Comparable as a regionally-scoped rugby ecosystem player closely intertwined with SAR's governance and member union structure.

Direct peers

• Rugby Americas North (RAN): Regional governing body for rugby across North America and the Caribbean — directly comparable in scope, structure, and World Rugby affiliation as a sister regional federation.
• Oceania Rugby: Regional rugby governing body for Oceania including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Pacific nations — comparable as a World Rugby regional association organizing regional competitions and development programs.
• Rugby Europe: Regional governing body for rugby union across Europe, directly comparable to Sudamérica Rugby as a continental federation running competitions, development programs, and referee education across member unions.
• Asia Rugby: Regional governing body for rugby across Asia, with a comparable structure of member unions, regional tournaments, and World Rugby-aligned development programs.
• Rugby Africa: Continental rugby governing body for Africa with analogous structure to SAR — member unions, regional competitions, and World Rugby-aligned development funding across emerging rugby nations.
• Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR): National governing body for rugby in Argentina and SAR's most powerful member union. Comparable as a federation organizing national competitions and development, and hosting major events for SAR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sudamericarugby
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/PrensaSudaméricaRugby1989
• Facebookfacebook.com/sudamericarugby
• Instagraminstagram.com/sudamericarugby
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sudam%C3%A9rica-rugby

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sudamérica Rugby