Polo up-and-coming star Rufino Laulhé, aged 15, died on Monday in a car crash near the town of Trenque Lauquen in southern Buenos Aires province. 

Laulhé was travelling with brother and fellow polo player Beltrán, aged 18, from La Pampa to Buenos Aires when they crashed into the back of a truck that was stopped on the highway shoulder. While Rufino was killed in the collision, the elder brother broke his hand and had to be taken to a nearby hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. 

According to Herald’s sister publication C5N.com, authorities are still working to determine the cause of the crash.

Both brothers were traveling to Buenos Aires in order to later fly to Florida, United States. They were set to debut in the 2025 Palm Beach International Polo Season, a series of professional tournaments held in the U.S.

Rufino, son of former professional polo player Gastón Laulhé, was one of the great promises of Argentine polo and had been part of the Argentine National Team alongside his brother. Last December, Rufino received the Argentine Olympic Committee’s Centenario 2024 award for outstanding sports performance.

The Argentine Polo Association (AAP for its Spanish initials) published a heartfelt homage to the young player. “Rufino, at only 15 years old, represented the future of Argentine polo,” said the statement. “His talent, sympathy, and dedication had already led him to wear the Argentine National Team shirt and to stand out in renowned tournaments, being a promise that inspired everyone around him.”