On behalf of Goff Rugby Report, Agustin Oulton of Varsity Travel interviewed Argentina U18 captain Patricio Baronio as his team prepares to face Italy in what has turned out to be the championship game of the Rugby 4 Naciones M18 in Rio Cuarto, Argentina.

 

Born in 1996, Baronio has played since he was four years old, and currently plays with the Jockey Club de Rosario. A scrumhalf Baronio acknowledges that he is actually the second-best scrumhalf in his age group, as the #1 is playing for the Argentina U20 team.

 

Working his way into the U18 is a tough job. He plays about 30 games for his club team and 12 more for select-side or regional play. 

 

“First you have to play for your union’s select team, and be among the best in your position compared to other union teams,” said Baronio (his comments have been translated by Oulton from Spanish). “Then you have to achieve the level required for the national team.”

 

Baronio points out that only one scrumhalf born in 1994 or 1995, Juan Bernadini, was deemed up to the standard of the U20 team, which was why 18-year-old Lautaro Bazan Velez made the team. (Velez played against the HS All Americans for Cordoba Academy).

 

 

About 120 players are in the Argentina U18 program. They assemble about five times a year and train and play games or scrimmages at each assembly.

 

The top coaches of the U20 team also coach the U18 team.

 

“There are two head coaches and a lot of assistant coaches,” said Baronio. There is an assistant coach in each provincial union. :Sometimes the U18 players from a local union get together for practice without the need of having any of the national head coaches there. Is the local assistant coach the one in charge of the practice.”

 

It all makes for a lot of rugby. Baronio played for about 11 months of the year, taking a break for a month around Christmas.

 

Having played the HS All Americans in 2013 and again this year, Baronio said he has seem improvement.

 

“They are a lot better [this year],” he said. “They have a richer game plan and more options within the field.”