Pumas cleared to play in Four Nations

[MI5_Dog]

Argentina cleared for 2012 Four Nations
May 13, 2010

AAP

Rugby's Tri-Nations will become the Four Nations in 2012 with the last hurdle cleared for a full-strength Argentina to enter the annual competition.

The Pumas' brute force, which propelled them to third at the 2007 World Cup, will challenge the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks after the International Rugby Board ensured they would have access to their best players.

A participation agreement is yet to be signed with governing body SANZAR but the path was Thursday cleared with the IRB approving a player availability regulation forcing European club sides to release Argentinian players for Four Nations internationals.
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"Today's announcement represents an historic milestone in the process of Argentina's integration into an expanded Tri Nations tournament and is an extremely exciting development," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

The expanded Four Nations will be played from mid-August to October, during the start of the Northern Hemisphere season where the large majority of Pumas ply their trade.

Previously, Argentina - ranked No.6 in world rugby, ahead of England, Wales and Scotland - had been seen as a potential addition to Europe's Six Nations tournament due to their club commitments.

But, as part of the integration, Pumas stars will be assisted in joining Super 15 teams from next year.

More are expected to gravitate towards South African franchises but there are sure to be Australian Rugby Union discussions to open up opportunities Down Under.

While the fledgling Melbourne Rebels can sign up to 10 foreign players, the ARU's current foreign-player policy restricts the Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and Western Force to just two imports.

Wallabies flanker and NSW skipper Phil Waugh on Thursday endorsed the addition of the hard-nosed Pumas to an eight-week Four Nations where each team played the others on a home and away basis.

"The Argentinians are a strong side," he said. "They showed that in the World Cup and obviously a lot of their players play in a strong comp in the French and European competitions.

"And it's not a bad place to go either so I think the guys are looking forward to perhaps playing them over there."

The IRB's latest move comes after the body in March agreed to match the contribution of SANZAR by paying $2.5 million annually from 2012-15 to help Argentina compete in the tournament.

"It will add a dynamic new element to the current Tri Nations, which is already regarded as one of the worlds toughest tournaments," said SANZAR chief Steve Tew

[zimeric]

this will mean initially more Argentine players becoming available for Super rugby
as the european clubs will baulk at having to share...

[mudskipper]

Sounds like Super rugby will attached some Pumas... nice... now it really is the southern hemisphere comp

[TOCC]

this article is 15months old... how many Pumas have we seen move to Super Rugby..

European Clubs already factor in larger squads because there season already overlaps with NH test rugby, this won effect them very much.

[zimeric]

the pumas wont move to super rugby before the 4 nations starts as they can still earn big money in Europe and not risk their seasons overlapping as much and suffering from burnout.

[mudskipper]

this article is 15months old... how many Pumas have we seen move to Super Rugby..

European Clubs already factor in larger squads because there season already overlaps with NH test rugby, this won effect them very much.

Most guys are on northern contacts but once it starts and provinces are looking outside their nations I expect some will win contacts in super rugby...

[James]

I doubt you'd get any Argentinians in Super Rugby, not that it wouldn't make the competition a bit more interesting.

The money is better in Europe and there are few impediments from them playing both European rugby and the 4-Nations.

But then again Juan Martin Hernandez was with the Sharks for a while.

[TOCC]

There might be a few who sign with super rugby clubs over the next few years, but it's not going to be a massive influx.. Like James said, the money is better in Europe

[brokendown gunfighter]

tell the Greeks that

[mudskipper]

tell the Greeks that

Not all eauropean players get big pay cheques, Noreiga is very happy here in OZ. I can see some other forwards coming in time... If they play super rugby its easy to cross to trh new Four Nations cup...

[jt12]

bring back Hugo porter for the force