The República Argentina Cup, the highlight of the Autumn season in Argentina, kicked off on Wednesday March, at the AAP Headquarters, in Pilar, Argentina. The tournament, established in 1929 by the then President of the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP), Mr. Francisco Ceballos, is remarkable because teams rated from 0 to 40 goals, from all over the country, are elegible to play. The final stages are played between Palermo and the AAP grounds in Pilar, while the final takes place at Palermo. The 2024 República Argentina Cup sees sixteen teams between 16 and 23 goals, partake. Teams are split in four leagues.
Among the participants in the tournament, there are several well known names within the sport, such as Nicolás Pieres, Pelon Stirling, Joaquin Pittaluga, the Toccalino brothers (Cubi and Santiago), Alejo Taranco, Facundo Llosa, Guillermo Terrera, Benjamin Panelo, Lukin Monteverde, and the legendary Lolo Castagnola.
It is worth noting that the República Argentina Cup is played on handicap and ties are permitted during the qualification stage.
The winners of each league will qualify to semifinals (due on March 27), while those placed second and three in their respective leagues will clash for the Diario La Nación Cup and Copa Canada Cup, respectively.
The finals of the República Argentina Cup will take place on Saturday March 29, at Palermo. Admittance is free.
The results of the opening day are the following:
La Violeta 11-9 La Dolfina Oriental
La Irenita 21-12 Trenque Lauquen Betania
Estancia Grande Polo Club 11-10 Mar del Plata Brava Polo
Ellerstina La Zeta 21-12 Arelauquen Patagonia Polo
La Matera 7Pm 16-5 La Arisca La Quinta
Cuatro Vientos 10-9 Chapeleufú/La Caledonia
Estancia La Paz Standing Rock 15-13 La Matera/La Aguada
Las Rosas 14-10 Coronel Suarez La Magdeleine
TOURNAMENT FACTS
-Among the teams who will be playing this year, there are some winners:
Trenque Lauquen (1952, ‘55, ‘66, ‘95)
Venado Tuerto (1954, 2004)
Media Luna (1950)
Tortugas (1979)
La Natividad (2016)
-Coronel Suárez has won the contest more than other team, 16 times.
-15 out of the 64 participant players have already claimed the República Argentina Cup: Lorenzo Chavanne (2021, 23) and Juan A. García Grossi (1995, 08); Tomás Ferrari (2023), Tomás Delfino (2022), Facundo Llosa (2021), Isidro Strada (2019), Bautista Arrastúa (2018), David Stirling (2018), Martín Podestá Jr. (2017), Barto Castagnola (2016), Juan Chavanne (2016), Joaquín Pittalugs (2014), Juan Jauretche (2011), Juan Zubiaurre (2011) and Tito Ruiz Guiñazú (2004).
-Juan José Brané has won the República Argentina Cup more than any other players, five times (1986, ‘92, ‘99, 2000 y 2002).