The big international date of the English summer has its opponents. The Hurlingham Polo Association has confirmed that England will play Argentina in this year’s Coronation Cup, on International Day at Guards Polo Club on Saturday 27 July.
A familiar challenge
The feature match will be played on the Queen’s Ground. England versus Argentina is one of the oldest rivalries in the sport, and the Coronation Cup has been the main stage for it since the competition was revived in 1971. According to the HPA, the two countries have met five times in the revived cup, in 1995, 2000, 2009, 2014 and 2019, and Argentina have won every one of them. That record is a reminder of what England are up against.
England will arrive with some momentum. They went unbeaten in the 2023 international season, and in the Coronation Cup itself they beat the Commonwealth side last year and Uruguay the year before. The English team has not been named yet, and the HPA has said only that it will pick the strongest side it can. Roddy Matthews, the HPA’s head of international and high-goal polo, and his colleagues will be responsible for the selection.
A chance for young players
There will also be a game for the next generation. A Young England team will play for the Whitbread Trophy on the same day, with its opponent still to be announced. These matches are often where we first see future internationals, and for many of the players it is the biggest crowd they have faced.
Why we are looking forward to it
International Day at Guards is a good occasion for newcomers as well as regulars. There is hospitality and a family atmosphere, and the quality of the polo is high. The Argentine team traditionally features some of the best players in the world, which gives English spectators the chance to see top-level polo on home soil.
Tickets and hospitality are available through the Guards Polo Club booking portal. With the Cartier Queen’s Cup and the Gold Cup at Cowdray also to come, it is going to be an exciting few months. We will bring you the England squad when it is announced.
Sources: Hurlingham Polo Association
