Porta, Hugo

▪ Argentine athlete

born Sept. 11, 1951, Buenos Aires, Arg.

      Argentine rugby union football player who was the sport's top fly half during the 1970s and early '80s and arguably the best ever. He was indisputably Argentina's most celebrated player, lifting the standard of rugby there in dozens of Test (international) matches (he also played Tests for the South American Jaguars against South Africa) between 1971 and 1990.

      Porta captained Argentina to a famous victory over Australia and draws with New Zealand and France. In leading South America (a mostly Argentine team) against South Africa in 1982, he scored all 21 points in his team's shocking 21–12 victory over the Springboks. Porta was an extraordinary tactical kicker and a deadly drop and penalty-goal scorer. He is one of only three players to have twice drop-kicked three goals in internationals. Porta was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997.

John Nauright

 

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