Argentina's rugby union scene is experiencing a surge in popularity, driven by the national team's strong recent record at Rugby World Cups, even as the sport continues to sit in the shadow of football and Lionel Messi in the country. Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi says amateur and community rugby is "booming" nationwide, with the sport now played across all social classes and regions rather than being confined to its traditional private-school and upper-class base in Buenos Aires. The trend matters ahead of Argentina's Nations Championship finale against England, as the Pumas look to translate grassroots growth into consistent results on the international stage.

Argentina reached Rugby World Cup semi-finals in 2007, 2015 and 2023, a run that helped popularise the sport domestically, though Contepomi stresses rugby remains "a sport" in Argentina compared with football being "a religion". Despite having no professional club side since the Jaguares folded in 2020 due to financial trouble, the semi-professional Super Rugby Americas has since fed around 20 players into the national squad, including Leicester Tigers' Joaquin Moro. Currently ranked seventh in the world, Argentina lost to Scotland but improved against Wales in this year's Nations Championship, and now face England on Saturday 18 July in Santiago del Estero as they aim to become a consistent top-four side.