Stockport RUFC welcome Argentina U20s

Stockport Rugby Club are very pleased to be hosting Argentina's U20 side during the World Championships which begin in Manchester this afternoon.

Los Pumitas are gearing up for their first game of the competition this afternoon when they take on France at Sale Sharks' AJ Bell Stadium.

On a sunny May Bank Holiday Sunday, Argentina were welcomed to Headlands Road at a Welcoming Ceremony & BBQ, at the end of which a Guard of Honour was formed by some of Stockport's mini and juniors. During the Ceremony RFU representative Andy Leach presented a plaque to chairman Ged Gurney to thank them for hosting the Argentina's U20 squad.

Ged thanked those from Stockport, in particular Matt Langtree, for helped organise the Welcome Event and expressed how pleased he was that Argentina had chosen the Cheshire club as their base for the next few weeks, noting there was one major reason why they had chosen the Red, Green and Whites.

Assistant Head Coach Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe was the man behind the decision. He lived in Manchester for three years when he played for Sale and the memories were at the forefront of his mind on his arrival into the UK because it's 10 years since Sale beat Leicester to win the Premiership title for the first and only time in their history.

Dean Scofield, a former team-mate of Fernandez Lobbe's, has strong links with Stockport with Dean's wife Gemma part of the Mini and Junior Committee at the Club.

Helene Kinsler who is Stockport’s 'World Cup Ticket master' was at the event to help promote ticket sales for the U20 World Championships.

Argentina were presented with Stockport ties, a plaque and medals from the RFU for taking part in the tournament while 'Port received some Argentina ties and a Calabash Gourd that is used for drinking a traditional Argentinian tea like drink called Mate. Each of the Argentina squad members were presented with their participation medals they exited the ceremony.

Argentina finished within a score of Ireland and eventual winners New Zealand in their first two pool games in 2015, but will be hoping to improve on their ninth place finish in Italy.

Los Pumitas have been drawn into Pool C in this year's competition alongside France, Japan and South Africa.