Athletic Marist Rugby Club, in Oamaru, is looking to create a formal relationship with Argentinian club Los Matreros, which the club hopes will result in a transfer of players and new opportunities.
The link was established this year, as Athletic Marist gained fullback Diego Biro and halfback Gonzalo Angella, of Argentina, for the 2014 season.
For Angella (23), it is all about getting valuable experience through regular starts in the tough arena of New Zealand provincial rugby.
''To play rugby in New Zealand is special - we know New Zealand is the capital of rugby,'' he said.
A week after his debut for Athletic Marist, Angella told ''lifelong friend'' Biro of the opportunities for rugby in North Otago.
Biro (23), a top try-scorer in Buenos Aires' premiere grade, had been looking for a chance to play in New Zealand and after Angella linked with Athletic Marist, he ''got the first plane out''.
''We are young. The moment to play rugby is now; we want to play the best rugby in Oamaru,'' Angella said.
''Oamaru is a very nice place. The people we meet here are very good; the Tongan people, the Kiwi people, our trainers - they're all very good people and supportive. We are happy.''
In Buenos Aires, Biro and Angella compete with about 120 players for selection in Los Matreros' premiere team.
Both overseas players, who are available for North Otago Heartland Squad selection, are hoping their experience in North Otago will open doors for them in European rugby.
Athletic Marist Rugby Club president Warren Pitches said both imports had impressed in the first few weeks of club rugby. The club's premiere team has won four of its five games in Citizens Shield club rugby this season and is now tied for first place with Old Boys.
''We're really happy to have these guys here; these guys are good rugby players,'' Pitches said.
''We hope to become a sister club to Los Matreros, establish a good connection with them and have some of our players go over there in the off-season - it's an ongoing connection now.''
Los Matreros was ''very keen'' to establish a sister-club relationship, which would benefit Athletic Marist as well as all rugby in North Otago, Pitches said.
Since the arrival of Angella and Biro, Pitches has received expressions of interest from four other Argentinian players.
Athletic Marist also has first five-eighth Ben Palmer, from England, in its ranks this year.
- by Rebecca Ryan
