Some general info about Brasil and its rugby.
Brasil has a population of almost 200 million people, with about 150 rugby clubs/teams. It has a bigger area than mainland USA, ie it's HUGE.
There are 26 states, plus the federal capital, Brasilia.
The country is split into five regions: North (7 states, pop'n 16m); Northeast (9 states, 55 m); Centre-west (3 states plus Brasilia, 15m); South-East (4 states, 82 m); South (3 states, 29m). Rugby is strongest in the South and South-East.
The South-East
Sao Paulo state (population 41 million) is the richest, and is the hotspot for rugby, with 5 teams in the Super 8 national championship. (Two more teams will be added in 2011, to make it the Super 10). Neighbouring Rio de Janeiro state has 16 million people, and has one team, Niteroi, in the Super 8. Minas Gerais (20 million) and Espirito Santo (4 million), currently have no teams in the Super 8.
The South
Rio Grande do Sul (pop'n 11m) has no team in the Super 8, but will have one in the expanded Super 10. It has a fairly strong rugby presence, perhaps due to the state being close to both Argentina and Uruguay. Santa Catarina (6m) and Parana (11m) each have one team in the Super 8.
The national governing body is the CBRu, Brazilian Rugby Confederation, but more about that in a later post.
Each state that plays rugby has (or should have) its own federation, which organizes the local state championship.
No comments:
Post a Comment