Brazil taking lessons from Argentine rugby

Brazil is taking notes from rivals Argentina in an effort to shake off its rugby minnow tag and become a global force in the sport, the country's top rugby official said on Sunday. 

   Speaking after the Beach Rugby Super Challenge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's rugby confederation CEO Agustin Danza said the sport is making promising progress in South America's largest country. 

   "We admire the Argentines very much, we are learning with them," Danza was quoted as saying by Rio2016.com. "The rivalry between us is much less so in rugby (than football).

   Despite football still ruling the hearts and minds of most Brazilians, rugby has won over a growing legion of youngsters.

   Among them is 20-year-old Mateus Estrela, who quit his career as a promising footballer to pursue his dream of representing Brazil in rugby. 

   "Although it is a sport with a lot of physical contact, there is a lot of respect," Estrela said. "Everybody does what the referee says, only the captain speaks to him."

   Played in scorching 40-degree heat, Brazil's women beat Argentina 8-5 in the final on Ipanema beach while Argentina won the men's competition with a 9-5 win over Portugal.  Endi