Historic: Attendance record at Los Pumas' open training session in Córdoba

The Mario Alberto Kempes stadium experienced an unprecedented day this Sunday. More than 10,000 people attended the open training session of Los Pumas, setting a historic attendance record for a practice session of the Argentine national rugby team.

The event took place ahead of the first matchday of the 2025 Rugby Championship, which will be played next Saturday, August 16, when Argentina faces New Zealand in Córdoba. From midday, families, clubs, and fans arrived from different parts of the province, offering a preview of the passion inspired by the sky-blue and white jersey.

The School of Physical Education at the Provincial University of Córdoba organized sports and recreational activities together with teachers from the Unión Cordobesa de Rugby. In addition, the provincial government provided 55 buses to transport more than 2,200 people from towns such as Villa de Soto, San Francisco, Río Cuarto, La Carlota, and Villa María, among others.

At 2:30 p.m., the training session began, with plays, skills, and pre-competition movements that allowed the public to experience up close the impact of every tackle and the unmistakable sound of the scrum.

"10,000 people were able to enjoy Los Pumas' open training session at Kempes stadium. We are beginning to experience the celebration of what will be a historic event with the national team facing the All Blacks," emphasized Agustín Calleri, head of the Agencia Córdoba Deportes.

Meanwhile, due to the large attendance, Córdoba native Joaquín Oviedo, one of the six local players on the squad, expressed his excitement: "It's an enormous joy to see so many people at Kempes. The last time I played in Córdoba was before the pandemic. I'm very eager to wear the jersey in front of my family and friends."

Saturday's match will mark the return of international rugby to Córdoba, where Los Pumas haven't played since 2014, when they lost to Scotland 21-19. For the All Blacks, however, it will be their third visit to the city, following their appearances in 1976 and 1985.

With a packed stadium and a mobilized province, Córdoba is preparing to host a high-level clash and reaffirm its place as a venue for major sporting events.