By Joe Santamaria
Pampas overcame the odds to claim their first Super Rugby Americas title with an impressive 26-17 victory over bitter rivals Dogos.
The new champions had a torrid record against Dogos heading into the match, but were superb throughout and deservedly claimed the spoils.
For Dogos, the defeat was their second consecutive loss in a final, and leaves them with just one win in their four Super Rugby Americas finals to date.
An early Estanislao Renthel penalty gave Pampas the lead in front of a raucous crowd in Córdoba.
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Pampas weather fast Dogos start to lead at half-time
Both sides had their moments in the opening minutes, with neither side willing to give an inch.
Renthel’s opposite number, Nicolás Roger, started brightly and threatened to open up the Pampas defence on several occasions with his range of passing.
The visitors weren’t able to heed the warning signs and were eventually punished. An excellent Roger pass created an opportunity for Agustín De Vertiz and the winger took it well, shaking off two tackles to score out wide.
Roger nailed the conversion from the touchline to put his side 7-3 up with 20 minutes played.
In previous games against Dogos, Pampas have failed to convert pressure into points and the first half looked to be following the script.
That all changed in the final ten minutes of the half, in which the Buenos Aires side burst into life.
Powerful centre Agustín Fraga bulldozed his way over the line to restore Pampas’ lead on the half-hour mark.
Then, with the clock in the red at the end of the half, Tobías Wade got the crowd on their feet with a great individual score.
The fullback stepped off his left foot and accelerated away from the would-be tacklers to extend Pampas’ lead to six points heading into the break.
Dogos’ title hopes slip away as Pampas celebrate
Both sides sensed the next score could be crucial as they ran out for the second half. Pampas fans twice thought their side had scored a third try, only for both efforts to be chalked off.
Renthel’s attempt was judged to have been held up on review, while another effort was penalised for double movement soon after.
Pampas’ pursuit of another try may have proved fruitless, but they still drew first blood in the second half when Renthel kicked a penalty, which Roger cancelled out with one of his own on the hour mark.
Pampas’ Bautista Farisé eventually came up with the moment of quality necessary to unlock the Dogos defence.
The replacement found Jerónimo Ulloa with a crossfield kick and the winger dotted down to put his team on the brink of the championship.
Farisé nailed the conversion and added a penalty shortly after, as Dogos’ title hopes began to slip away.
A late onslaught from Dogos was inevitable and so it proved. Fullback Mateo Soler powered over out wide, but it was too little too late, and Pampas were soon beginning their celebrations.
Our 2026 Super Rugby Americas Team of the Season
With Pampas having claimed their first ever title, find out who has made The Rugby Paper’s Super Rugby Americas Team of the Season in 2026.
- Nicolás Toth (Yacare): In a difficult season for Yacare, Toth has been a rare positive. The all-action loosehead brought valuable experience from his years playing in France and has been a superb addition to the league.
- Juan Ignacio Greising Revol (Dogos): The hooker had big boots to fill this season, after Leonel Oviedo departed for Australia, but he has been superb all season and finished as the tournament’s top try-scorer with an impressive 11.
- Enzo Avaca (Capibaras): A ferocious scrummager in the Argentine mould, Avaca has also shown a proficiency in the loose this season. Selknam’s Iñaki Gurruchaga is an honourable mention after a brilliant campaign.
- Luciano Acevedo (Tarucas): Weighing in at nearly 130kg, Acevedo is a man-mountain and his physicality has been at the heart of Tarucas’ success this year. It is no wonder Felipe Contepomi called him into a Pumas squad as a development player last year.
- Lucas Bur (Capibaras): The 25-year-old brought years of MLR experience to the new franchise and quickly became one of their most important players. The combination of physicality and subtlety has set him apart from his second row rivals this year.
- Manuel Ardao (Peñarol): The league’s MVP in 2023 has picked up where he left off, having returned to the continent this season after two years away. His tackling is as world class as ever, and he has even added some highlight-reel tries to his game this season.
- Valentin Cabral (Dogos): Having missed the start of the season with the same injury that ruled him out of last year’s final, Cabral has been busy making up for lost time. The Dogos captain puts in consistently excellent performances every week and is perhaps the league’s most underrated player.
- Thiago Sbrocco (Tarucas): Santiago Montagner can count himself unlucky after a great season with Selknam, but Sbrocco has been one of the breakout stars of 2026. There may be bigger No 8s out there, but few are as relentless or explosive as the 22-year-old from Tucumán.
- Nicolás Viola (Dogos): The likes of Lucas Berti and Juan Cruz Strada have shown their class this season, but Viola’s consistency has been key to Dogos’ rise to the top of the table. Having seen two scrum-halves make their Pumas debuts straight out of Super Rugby Americas last season, Viola could well find himself in the international picture in the coming months.
- Ignacio Dogliani (Capibaras): Fly-half is perhaps the most competitive position in this team, with at least four of five candidates. Ultimately, Dogliani’s big moments and ability to organise an entirely new backline mean he sneaks in ahead of the likes of Renthel, and Cerruti.
- Nicolás Saab (Selknam): After bursting onto the scene in 2025, Saab has been even more impressive this season. Still only 21, Saab has shown himself to be an excellent finisher this year, but has also shown a real creative side to his game, setting up multiple tries over the course of the season.
- Matías Garafulic (Selknam): The utility back has had a rare extended run in a single position this season and has oozed class from inside centre. The Chilean’s goal kicking is crucial to Selknam, but his creativity with ball in hand is what sets him apart.
- Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos): The youngster has continued the upward trajectory that saw him win his first Argentina cap last year. His combination of pace, power, and maturity in possession means he must be on the radar of major teams in Europe.
- Santiago Pernas (Pampas): Brilliant both with an without the ball, Pernas has continued to go from strength to strength this season, scoring nine tries along the way. Having won his first Argentina cap last year, more international honours could be in his future.
- Tobías Wade (Pampas): Franco Rossetto, Rosko Specman, and Mateo Soler have been impressive this season, but Wade’s calmness and class at the back have been vital. His excellent try in the final sees him selected ahead of the others. With injuries to the likes of Juan Cruz Mallía, the ex-7s star could find himself making his Pumas debut before the year is out.
Head Coach: Nicolás Galatro (Capibaras)
Juan Manuel Leguizamón deserves an honourable mention after leading Pampas to the title, but Galatro managed to guide Capibaras all the way to the semi-finals in their first ever season. The 2024 title winner will be confident he can take the new franchise even further in 2027.
READ MORE: SRA Semi-finals review – Dominant Dogos punch final ticket
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