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AAP
July 18, 2013,
8:13 am
Waratahs Michael Cheika has announced he will send a 34-man NSW Barbarians squad to Argentina to take on the Pumas in a two-match series.
The squad will leave for Argentina on July 29 and play two games against the Pumas on August 3 in Buenos Aires and August 9 in Salta before returning two days later.
Invited by the Argentinian Rugby Union to assist the Pumas' preparation for The Rugby Championship kicking off on August 17, the squad will be made up of Waratahs and invited players from the Sydney premiership.
As well as providing valuable international experience, the tour is a big opportunity for a number of emerging NSW prospects to secure one of the Waratahs' five Extended Playing Squad contracts up for grabs for 2014.
"We are playing against the main Pumas squad and this will be their first preparation games leading into The Rugby Championship," said Cheika.
"The majority of the Waratahs players were involved in the (British and Irish) Lions match and, if we can get two more fixtures against international opposition, they will have played three matches against Test opposition.
"For the guys who haven't played Test rugby before, the experience of playing international rugby in front of a big crowd, especially away from home, is too good to miss out on."
Although the tour clashes with rounds 16 and 17 of the Shute Shield competition, Cheika praised the support he had received from his club coaches.
With five places in his 2014 Super Rugby squad on the line, Cheika says the tour represents a massive opportunity for some of the state's best club players to put their hand up for a professional contract.
"But it doesn't mean that players not on the tour won't be considered," he said.
"Some players have been left behind to ensure that there is a balance for the Shute Shield games taking place."
Touring squad: Peter Betham, Berrick Barnes, Mitchell Chapman, Cam Crawford, Dave Dennis, Bernard Foley, Pat McCutcheon, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Matt Lucas, Brendan McKibbin, Drew Mitchell, Tatafu Polota Nau, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, Sitaleki Timani, Jed Holloway, Luke Holmes, Ben Volavola, Will Skelton, Tala Grey, Alofa Alofa, Jack Dempsey, Auvasa Falealii, Alex Gibbon, Terrence Hepetema, David Horwitz, Tolu Latu, David Lolohea, Usaia O'Sullivan, Kerren Straker, Sam Talakai, Keliti Vangalo, Liam Winton.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...our-argentina/
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