The 2024 URBA Top 12 final was the final of the 125th. edition of Torneo de la URBA, the regional rugby union competition organised by Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires (URBA). It is the oldest rugby competition in South America and one of the oldest club competitions in the world.
The match was contested by Alumni and Belgrano A.C., and was held in Estadio del CASI. Since the URBA implemented the playoffs system in 1998,El torneo de la URBA da un abrupto giro a partir de 2017 , La Nación, 20 May 2016 it was the 8th. final contested by Alumni (with only one of them being victorious, in 2018 vs Hindú)Hindú venció a Alumni y se coronó como campeón at Infobae, 11 Nov 2017 while Belgrano played their 3rd. final, with one title won in 2016.¡Desahogo total! En 2016, Belgrano se consagró después de 48 años at espn.cl. 29 Aug 2020
Alumni won the match 20–17 with a sudden death drop goal by Joaquín Díaz Luzzi (chosen as player of the match), winning their 7th. league title.Todos los títulos de Alumni en la URBA at espn.co. 26 Oct 2024
History of a rivalry Alumni and Belgrano have a rivalry that was born in early XX century, when they played football in the Argentine top division, Primera División.La historia de Belgrano y Alumni, los finalistas del torneo de rugby by Hernando De Cillia and Jorge Ciccodicola at Página/12. 26 Oct 2024 Defunct Alumni Athletic Club (predecessor to the current club) was the most winning team in those years with 22 titles, and is regarded as a milestone for the development of football in the country."Alumni: en el nombre del fútbol" on Clarín. 21 Apr 2003
On the other hand, Belgrano was also a leading force, having won 6 titles between 1899 and 1908.Campeones del Fútbol Argentino on AFA website and notable footballers such as Charles Edgard DickinsonColección 100 años de fútbol – Historia ilustrada del fútbol uruguayo, Franklin MoralesHistoria Del Fútbol Amateur En La Argentina, Jorge Iwanczuk (1992) Arturo Forrester,El fútbol curioso, Clarín, 26 Dec 1998Se fue Arturo Forrester, El Gráfico, 1959 and Arnold Watson Hutton,Belgrano Athletic 1 – Boca Juniors 1 (match chronicle) on Historia de BocaArgentina - Five or More Goals Scored by One Player in a Match on the RSSSF who also played for Alumni.Alumni on Scots Football Worldwide
The football rivalry lasted until 1911, when Alumni played their last championship before being definitely disbanded two years later. On the other hand, Belgrano was relegated to the second division in 1916."Asociacion Argentina de Football – 1916", RSSSF The club later disaffiliated from the Argentine Association, focusing on rugby and other sports.1946. CINCUENTENARIO DEL BELGRANO ATHLETIC CLUB on El Gráfico (originally published in 1946)Trece décadas (1891-2016). El otro Belgrano campeón by Oscar Barnade on Clarín, 26 Oct 2016
When "Asociación Alumni" was established in 1951, the rivalry revived. The recently created club debuted in the seventh division v Belgrano, in a match ended 0–0. But it was not until 1970 when both teams faced for the first time in Primera División after Alumni won the segunda championship promoting to the top level.
On 22 April 1973 Belgrano defeated Alumni 6115 in which still remains as Virrey del Pino team's biggest win in El Clásico. On the other hand, Alumni's biggest win was on 10 May 1986 when they beat BAC 49–15.
Qualified teams Team Previous final app. Alumni 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2023 Belgrano 2016, 2019 Note
Venue
The final was held in La Catedral ("the Cathedral of rugby"),Estadio del CASI by Adrián Redi at estadiosdeargentina.com.ar, 11 Jan 2014 nickname of Estadio del CASI, earned due to it is distant 500 mts from the San Isidro Cathedral,CASI-SIC, el superclásico del rugby argentino on Deportea. 15 Oct 2024 a historic landmark since 1963.Historia y Arquitectura at catedraldesanisidro.orgCatedral de San Isidro Labrador (solar) at argentina.gob.arMONUMENTOS Y LUGARES HISTORICOS NACIONALES - Decreto 9.226/63 which has been the venue of URBA finals since 2008.Hindú, a lo campeón at aplenorugby.com.ar. 4 Nov 2007 The stadium, with capacity for 4,500 spectactors,Súper Rugby Américas: los estadios de todos los equipos on espn.com.ar. 12 Feb 2025 is one of the oldest in Argentina so the club has always been on the same site since 1902, when Manuel Aguirre, owner of a large chacra on Sánez Peña street, gave the club a portion to settle down there.
The stadium is located in downtown San Isidro, has a lighting system for night matches and a concrete grandstand inaugurated in the 1920s. When San Isidro competed in football tournament organised by AFA, the stadium was also used for that sport.Memoria y Balance 1922. Asociación Amateurs de Football at Biblioteca AFA
Road to the final After the regular season, four teams qualified to the semifinals in order to decide the two clubs that played the final.Fixture y resultados at urba.org.ar
Alumni Round Belgrano OpponentResult Stage OpponentResultChampagnat 37–30 (H) Matchday 1 Regatas BV 24–13 (A) San Luis 18–17 (A) Matchday 2 CASI 14–12 (H) Atletico del Rosario 37–8 (H) Matchday 3 CUBA 42–41 (A) Regatas BV 18–13 (A) Matchday 4 SIC 24–32 (H) Newman 37–26 (H) Matchday 5 Champagnat 49–18 (A) CASI 20–55 (A) Matchday 6 Atletico del Rosario 69–22 (H)Buenos Aires CRC 42–16 (H) Matchday 7 Newman 56–26 (A) CUBA 26–44 (A) Matchday 8 Buenos Aires CRC 31–27 (H) Belgrano 9–22 (H) Matchday 9 Alumni 22–9 (A) SIC 31–22 (A) Matchday 10 Hindú 23–26 (H) Hindú 24–19 (H) Matchday 11San Luis 40–22 (H) Champagnat 25–18 (A) Matchday 12 Regatas BV 22–12 (H) San Luis 19–16 (H) Matchday 13 CASI 41–37 (A) Atletico del Rosario 51–26 (A) Matchday 14 CUBA 30–22 (H) Regatas BV 32–10 (H) Matchday 15 SIC 21–34 (A) Newman 19–30 (A) Matchday 16 Champagnat 47–25 (H) CASI 37–25 (H) Matchday 17 Atletico del Rosario 31–35 (A) Buenos Aires CRC 27–17 (A) Matchday 18 Newman 9–23 (H) CUBA 39–24 (H) Matchday 19 Buenos Aires CRC 21–22 (A) Belgrano 23–25 (A) Matchday 20 Alumni 25–23 (H) SIC 13–20 (H) Matchday 21 Hindú 42–29 (A) Pos. Team Pts. P W T L Qualification 1 Newman 77 221705 749 501 Semifinalists 2 SIC 75 221714661459 3 Alumni 73 221606627502 4 Belgrano 71 221507720539 Alumni Round Belgrano OpponentResult Stage OpponentResult SIC 30–21 (A) Semifinals Newman 28–27 (A)
Match Just as the match began, Belgrano opened the scoring with a penalty kick from the league's leading scorer, fullback Juan Landó at 4'.¡Alumni le ganó 20-17 el clásico a Belgrano y es el nuevo campeón! at espn.com.ar, 26 Oct 2024 After several attacking attempts by Alumni, Belgrano capitalized on an opponent's mistake and scored a try thanks to an interception by Augusto Vaccarino. Towards the end of the first half, Joaquín Díaz Luzzi narrowed the gap with a try kick. Before halftime, Fuentes intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field but failed to score. The teams went into the break with Belgrano Athletic holding a 10–3 lead.
In the second half, the Virrey del Pino side again scored early. In the second minute, Joaquín Moro scored, and Juan Landó converted with his kick. From then on, they were unable to extend their lead. However, Alumni leveled the score with a penalty try, followed by another run of almost 100 meters by Ramón Fuentes, who this time successfully scored. Díaz Luzzi's conversion brought the score level. The tie persisted until the final buzzer, and after a 17–17 draw in the eighty minutes, the game went to extra time.
In sudden death, Landó missed a drop goal from midfield in the opening seconds. From then on, Alumni launched an attack until they reached the try zone. That perseverance paid off. Six minutes later, Joaquín Díaz Luzzi sealed the title with a drop goal to give Alumni their seventh league title.
Match details
FB 15 Santiago González Iglesias RW 14 Santiago Pernas OC 13 Tomás Cubilla IC 12 Franco Battezzati LW 11 Ramón Fuentes FH 10 Joaquín Díaz Luzzi SH 9 Tomás Passerotti N8 8 Santiago Montagner OF 7 Patricio Anderson BF 6 Ignacio Cubilla RL 5 Bernardo Quaranta LL 4 Manuel Mora TP 3 Bautista Vidal HK 2 Tomás Bivort (c) LP 1 Federico Lucca Substitutions: P Máximo Castrillo P Tomás Rapetti FW Santiago Alduncín FB Alejo González Chávez FL Tobías Moyano FW Cruz González Bibolini Coaches: Rodrigo Jiménez Salice Hernán Ballatore
FB 15 Juan Landó RW 14Pedro Arana OC 13 Tomás Etchepare IC 12 Martín Arana LW 11 Ignacio Diaz FH 10 Juan Aparicio SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Joaquín Moro OF 7 Julián Rebussone BF 6 Joaquín De la Serna RL 5 Augusto Vaccarino LL 4 Juan Penoucos TP 3 Lisandro García Dragui HK 2 Francisco Lusarreta LP 1 Francisco Ferronato (c)Substitutions: P Justo Durañona FL Franco Vega W Tobías Bernabé L Luciano Tecca SH Ignacio Marino P Santiago García Botta Coaches: Guillermo Tramezzani Luis Gradín Francisco Gradín
References