Pumas' 3N entry put on ice
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:37
Argentina, third at the World Cup in France last year, have been told wait at least four more years before they can join the Tri-Nations series.
This delay in the Pumas' entry into a major international competition was confirmed by the International Rugby Board (IRB) on Tuesday.
Argentina are the only top 10 nation not involved in either the Six Nations or Tri-Nations and their pleas for a regular spot in rugby's sunlight have fallen on deaf eras.
Mark Egan, head of IRB rugby services, said Argentina's most likely destination was the Tri-Nations competition with world champions South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
"The natural fit is for Argentina, which lies in the south, to play in the Southern Hemisphere. Broadcast and commercial agreements really mean that the earliest mooted time would be post rugby World Cup 2011.
"It requires a transition period of planning and development and the first step is to increase the number of tests the Pumas play while SANZAR [South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby] reviews its tournament structures," he said, referring to the Tri-Nations contestants.
Egan is scheduled to visit Buenos Aires this week to meet the new Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) board, elected less than two weeks ago, to discuss the way forward for Argentina.
This will involve a gradual buildup of professional structures for elite players and participation by Pumas A teams in tournaments such at the Churchill Cup and Nations Cup.
