Jewish-backed Buenos Aires rugby club wins title

An Argentinian rugby team with a Jewish history and many Jewish fans wins for the second straight year the national league championship.

The Buenos Aires-based Hindu Club team won the Argentinean national title Saturday after defeating Belgrano Athletic Club, 38-23.

Identified as the Jewish rugby team among the national clubs, Hindu fans display Israeli flags during some matches. Hindu supporters have sung joyfully at several recent games: “We don’t have friends, we are black and Jews.” By “black,” the chant refers not to people of African descent but as a slang term for people who are low class or have darker skin than average, in contrast to the stereotype of blond, aristocratic rugby players.

During the 1960s, many Jewish families started to sign up for membership in Hindu. Many Jewish families own homes in and live in the residential sector of Hindu´s country club.

Despite having Jewish members and fans, Hindu is not a Jewish institution.

— JTA