The Final and Biggest Rugby Award of 2016: The Rugby Pass Mascot of the Year
An anthropomorphic jaguar has come out of nowhere to scoop the most coveted prize in rugby mascotdom. Calum Henderson congratulates Jaguardo, the Jaguares mascot, on his sensational debut season.
The Jaguares promised a lot in their inaugural season and they delivered on approximately none of it.
Peeling back the layers of disappointment from the Argentinean side’s first foray into Super Rugby reveals just one saving grace: their mascot, Jaguardo.
Yep, that’s the one.
In just one season Jaguardo has changed the game for Super Rugby mascots; his antics at home games at Estadio José Amalfitani permanently reshaping the parameters of what we previously thought possible.
Where else are you likely to see a mascot zipline the length of the stadium holding a lit flare in each hand at half time?
@JaguaresARG @SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/Xs5hbVIyqM
— Cami Burgio (@CamiBurgio) September 14, 2016
Or riding a motorcycle while holding a giant flag?
@JaguardoOk pic.twitter.com/PU8QiUTIbT
— Diego (@DiegoAndradaa) July 18, 2016
Other mascots may have taken some good photos but none were as active as Jaguardo. He was by far the most exciting to watch on the pitch, while off the pitch he maintained a strong Instagram and Twitter presence.
En las buenas y en las malas. @JaguaresARG es un gran equipo! #Gracias #Cracks pic.twitter.com/IUiXwmNDVv
— Jaguardo (@JaguardoOk) July 10, 2016
What will he do next? Already this is one of the most compelling storylines of the 2017 Super Rugby season.
For all that he has done for rugby this year, we sincerely thank Jaguardo, the 2016 Rugby Pass Mascot of the Year.