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An old favourite on some other Rugby sites but now that it's topical I thought we could cover it for awhile here.
Should we be looking to expand the Tri Nations to include los Pumas, should it be the Pacific Islands as a group or individually instead?
Have a vote and let us know your thoughts.
Boks want Pumas in Tri-Nations
From Craig Ray in Cape Town
February 21, 2006
A SOUTH African Rugby Union official said his union would support the inclusion of Argentina to an expanded Tri-Nations format if the matter ever reached boardroom level.
"We would support your request to play in the Tri-nations," SARU deputy chief executive Mveleli Ncula told the Argentinean ambassador to South Africa at a function.
The southern hemisphere's premier rugby competition sees the Springboks, the All Blacks and Wallabies compete on an annual home and away basis.
Argentina has long expressed an interest in becoming part of the competition but so far has been unsuccessful in its efforts to be included.
Recently the three nations signed an extension to their television deal that will see the tournament remain as it is for at least the next five years.
"We belong in a tournament in the southern hemisphere and not in an expanded Six Nations," Ambassador Carlos Sersale di Cerisano said.
An idea to base the Pumas in Spain and play in an expanded Six Nations tournament had been speculated upon in the British media several months ago.
"If the idea of including the Pumas ever reached the SANZAR boardroom we would offer our support at those discussions," Ncula said.
"But at this stage that possibility is at least five years away."
Springboks coach Jake White also said he would welcome the inclusion of the Pumas.
"I think it would add a new dimension to the tournament and perhaps refresh it," White said.
"Many people have been calling for a return to longer tours instead of a Tri-Nations, but perhaps the inclusion of Argentina would be another option.
"It would mean vast travelling distances, which might help us as New Zealand and Australia would have to travel more than they currently do.
"Argentina have improved their player base tremendously through the French league, and the Tri-nations would give them a chance to regularly play as a national team and further improve their rugby."
Reuters